Couple accused of kidnapping child for what family feared was gender reassignment in Cuba, DOJ says

A Utah couple is in custody after they were accused of taking a 10-year-old child from the United States to Cuba without the biological mother’s knowledge, the Department of Justice said in a news release, causing the family to worry that the move was an effort to give the child gender reassignment surgery prior to puberty.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah accuses two people, Rose Inessa-Ethington, who is the child’s biological father, and Rose’s partner Blue Inessa-Ethington, of “skipping out on a planned camping trip to Canada” that was supposed to last five days. Instead they allegedly flew from Vancouver to Mexico City, and then from Merida to Havana, where they were apprehended more than two weeks later.

42-year-old Rose Inessa-Ethington, who the Department of Justice says is transgender, shares custody of the child with her former spouse, the child’s mother. Their child was born male, but identifies as a girl, officials said, “which family members largely believed to be due to manipulation by Rose.”

According to the criminal complaint, searches of Rose and Blue’s residence revealed “numerous ‘to-do’ lists” that allegedly included: “learn Spanish,” information on flights to Canada, Mexico and Cuba, withdrawing $10,000, “write out and start what we can for tourist visa,” and “empty USU bank.”

Authorities also allegedly found notes “regarding putting items in storage and buying a combination lock,” and instructions from a mental health therapist in Washington, D.C. “including instruction to send the therapist the $10,000 and instructions on gender affirming medical care for children.”

“Concerns existed that the child was transported to Cuba for gender reassignment surgery prior to puberty,” officials said.

On April 13, 2026, a Utah State Court ordered the 10-year-old to be returned to the child’s mother immediately and granted the mother exclusive custody of the child. Three days later, Cuban law enforcement found the group on the island.

The child was recovered “safely,” the news release states.

Rose and 32-year-old Blue Inessa-Ethington, also known as Eri Ethington and Carly Ann Crosby, respectively, were deported from Cuba on Monday with help from the FBI, the Justice Department said. They are charged with international parental kidnapping and appeared in court for an arraignment in Richmond, Virginia.

The suspects will be extradited to Utah for the remainder of their case, which will be heard in the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City.

The Justice Department said the case is being investigated by the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office.

“The U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Services and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations in Havana played a key role in recovering the minor victim safely, along with the FBI’s Mexico City Law Enforcement Attache Office,” the news release reads.