In a shocking case of alleged parental abduction driven by apocalyptic fears, Utah mother Elleshia Anne Seymour, 35, vanished with her four young children on a one-way flight to Europe, leaving behind disturbing evidence of a calculated escape. Authorities discovered a notebook containing a “sinister” to-do list outlining steps to erase traces—shred paperwork, destroy identifying photos, discard phones, and buy prepaid ones—alongside a delusional note claiming divine guidance to reach Italy by Christmas amid the “end times.” Charged with four counts of custodial interference, Seymour’s actions have sparked an international manhunt, with the FBI involved and hopes for INTERPOL intervention.

The disappearance came to light after a welfare check on December 2, 2025, at Seymour’s West Jordan home found it unlocked and empty. Surveillance footage from Salt Lake City International Airport captured her boarding a Delta flight to Croatia on November 30 with the children: Landon Hal Seymour (11), Levi Parker Seymour (8), Hazel Rae Seymour (7), and Jacob Kurt Brady (3). Seymour shares custody of three with ex-husband Kendall Seymour and one with another father, violating agreements without consent. An endangered missing advisory was issued December 10, citing concerns over her mental state but no belief she’d harm the kids.

Kendall Seymour, blindsided by his ex-wife’s hidden beliefs—uncovered via a secret TikTok account ranting about doomsday—launched a GoFundMe to fund travel to Europe for retrieval. “Elle forged passport documents… left a note dictating a delusional message from God,” he wrote, emphasizing the need to minimize trauma by being present upon her potential arrest. The fundraiser highlights therapy costs for the children, uprooted into uncertainty.

Seymour’s motives appear tied to escalating paranoia about impending apocalypse, prompting her to seek “safety” abroad despite no family ties there. A voicemail left for one father claimed she was in France seeking permanent residency as “end times” approached. This case echoes rare but alarming parental abductions fueled by mental health crises, where delusions override custody laws.

Utah authorities, collaborating with federal agencies, pursue escalation to unlawful flight charges for broader reach. Parental abduction, often underreported, traumatizes children through instability and secrecy. Experts note such fugitives may change identities, complicating recovery—even under Hague Convention protocols applicable to many European nations.

As the search spans continents, the children’s fathers endure agony, advocating for swift resolution. Kendall expressed hope the kids still view it as a “vacation,” shielding them from harsher realities. This incident underscores gaps in preventing international removals, like passport safeguards and mental health flags in custody cases.

Seymour’s chilling preparations—methodical cover-up steps—paint a portrait of premeditation, contrasting her prior unremarkable life. For the affected families, resolution means reuniting the children with stability, healing from a mother’s descent into fear-driven extremes. As 2026 dawns, global cooperation offers the best chance to bring them home safely.