FBI Says Child Was Kidnapped, Taken to Cuba for Gender Surgery The FBI has confirmed that a 10-year-old child from Utah was taken to Cuba by a parent and partner in a case involving international parental kidnapping and concerns over gender-affirming medical care. Federal authorities intervened after receiving reports that the child was transported to Havana for the purpose of obtaining gender transition surgery, which is not legally available for minors in Cuba. According to a criminal complaint filed in federal court in Utah, the child’s parent, Rose Inessa-Ethington, a transgender woman, and her partner, Blue Inessa-Ethington, allegedly took the child to Canada under the pretense of a camping trip in late March. After informing the child’s biological mother they had arrived in Canada, the couple disabled their phones and traveled from Vancouver to Mexico before flying to Cuba on April 1. FBI Director Kash Patel stated that agents from Utah, Virginia, and the agency’s critical incident response group were involved in locating and returning the child safely to the United States. The FBI reported that Blue Inessa-Ethington withdrew $10,000 from her checking account prior to departure. Investigators discovered a note at the couple’s home containing instructions from a mental health therapist in Washington, D.C., to send $10,000 and provide guidance on gender-affirming medical care for children. Authorities emphasized that even as the complaint raises concerns about the intent to obtain gender-affirming surgery in Cuba, it does not confirm that such procedures were actually sought or arranged. Cuba prohibits gender-affirming surgeries for minors, making such treatment unavailable there for individuals under the age of 18. The case has drawn attention due to its intersection of custody disputes, parental rights, and access to gender-affirming care for minors. Federal and state officials continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the child’s removal and travel, with the focus on ensuring the child’s safety and welfare. As of April 23, 2026, the child has been returned to the United States, and both adults remain in custody facing charges related to international parental kidnapping. No further details about the child’s current placement or ongoing legal proceedings have been publicly released.
19