A Provo man and three of his children have returned home from Croatia following an international abduction by their mother, according to a fundraiser update from Kendall Seymour. The family's return follows a months-long effort involving legal battles in a Croatian state-run orphanage and the mobilization of international legal resources.
Family Reunification After Croatia Stay
The Seymour family, including children Landon Hal (10), Levi Parker (8), and Hazel Rae (7), were reunited with their father after being held in Croatia. A February 1, 2026, update to a GoFundMe campaign organized by Kendall Seymour confirmed the family was "on the way home" and successfully retrieved the three Seymour children along with their younger half-brother, Jacob Kurt Brady, age 3.
Details of the November Abduction
The ordeal began on November 30, 2025, when the children's mother flew to Europe with the children. According to the fundraiser description, the family did not realize the children were missing until Tuesday, December 2, 2025. Seymour reported that the mother had forged passport documents for the children and left behind a note containing a message regarding a religious promise to be in Italy by Christmas.
The note also allegedly included a list of instructions to destroy evidence, including shredding paperwork, destroying identifying photos, throwing away a phone, and purchasing a pre-paid phone.
Legal Battle in Croatia
Prior to their successful return, the family faced significant legal hurdles while in Croatia. An update from January 25, 2026, stated that the children were trapped in a state-run orphanage and that the family was working to remove them from the custody of the local government.
To facilitate the children's release, Seymour noted they had to hire Croatian lawyers specializing in child abduction, submit applications under the Hague Convention, and employ court-approved translators. The process also required extending their stay in Croatia for an undetermined period.
Financial Costs and Additional Children
The financial burden of the recovery effort was substantial. The GoFundMe campaign, which raised over $58,000 toward a $100,000 goal, was used to cover expensive round-trip flights to Croatia—which Seymour described as one of the most expensive locations they had considered—as well as hotel stays and legal fees.
Seymour also expressed concern for a fifth American child who was traveling with the Seymour children. This child, the son of another parent, faced even more difficult circumstances in the children's home, necessitating additional legal strategy and assistance.
Long-term Trauma and Recovery
While the primary focus remained on the physical recovery of the children, Seymour indicated that funds exceeding flight costs would be directed toward therapy for the five family members involved to address the trauma of the experience.
During the height of the crisis, Seymour noted that while the mother had not been located, the FBI was actively working on the case with the help of family connections.
Legal Record Limitations
While specific details regarding the current legal status of the mother or any related criminal proceedings in Utah are not available through public Xchange case searches—as certain records such as juvenile delinquency, child welfare, and termination of parental rights are kept under the jurisdiction of the juvenile court and are not accessible to the public—the physical return of the children marks the end of their time in the Croatian orphanage.
