Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BELMOPAN604
2007-10-12 21:49:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Belmopan
Cable title:  

BELIZE: CHILD ABDUCTION CASE RESOLVED

Tags:  CASC PREL BH 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0010
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBE #0604 2852149
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 122149Z OCT 07
FM AMEMBASSY BELMOPAN
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 0844
UNCLAS BELMOPAN 000604 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR WHA/CEN - ROIS BEAL
DEPT FOR CA/OCS/ACS/WHA - MAUREEN MUELLER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CASC PREL BH
SUBJECT: BELIZE: CHILD ABDUCTION CASE RESOLVED

UNCLAS BELMOPAN 000604

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR WHA/CEN - ROIS BEAL
DEPT FOR CA/OCS/ACS/WHA - MAUREEN MUELLER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CASC PREL BH
SUBJECT: BELIZE: CHILD ABDUCTION CASE RESOLVED


1. Summary. A six-year-old Belizean girl was taken by her father to
the United States in February 2007 without permission. The Embassy
initially received negative press when the incident took place. On
October 7 the girl was returned to Belize and the Embassy received
thanks in the press and from the girl's mother. End Summary.


2. On February 9, 2007, Belizean citizen Gesenia Cook, arrived at
the Embassy to report that her American citizen child, Zoe Katheryn
Cook (age 6),had been taken to the United States by her father
without consent. Mrs. Cook presented a Belize Family Court document
which granted her interim custody of the child. The father, Richard
Cook, and child were in possession of valid U.S. passports and were
thought to be in the United States with Mr. Cook's family. Belizean
media ran several negative stories concerning the case.


3. After the meeting, consular staff contacted Overseas Citizen
Services and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
(NCMEC). Unfortunately, Mrs. Cook did not know the location of the
child. Conoff submitted paperwork and photographs of the child to
NCMEC and they assisted Mrs. Cook with the process of locating the
child and filing a case under the Hague Convention. (Note: Belize
has been a Hague Convention partner since 1989. End note.)


4. On September 20 the child was located with her father in
Arizona. Mrs. Cook flew to the United States for the trial at which
the court in Arizona granted temporary custody to the mother and
ordered the child returned to Belize. Mother and child arrived in
Belize on October 7. Full custody will be determined by a family
court in Belize.


5. On October 11 Belize news reported on the success of the case
and acknowledged the assistance of the Embassy, the Center for
Missing and Exploited Children, and the U.S. Marshals Service. Mrs.
Cook contacted the Embassy and expressed her gratitude for the
support from the Consular Section.

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