Deonna Shipman, who was taken out of the country by her non-custodial father in July of 2007, has been found, according to Onondaga County Sheriff Kevin E. Walsh.
Luba Shipman of Liverpool and her ex-husband, Jeffrey, shared joint custody of the little girl, then 3, since their divorce in 2004. While Luba had physical custody, Jeffrey was allowed visitation. Both parents filed petitions seeking to modify the order in July of 2007 in Onondaga County Family Court. Deonna went to her father’s for her scheduled court-ordered visitation on Wednesday, July 11. She was supposed to return by 5 p.m. Thursday July 12.
She never came home.
Jeffrey Shipman, 51, according to the FBI, took her to Europe, where agents then lost track of him. Last month, he turned himself into the American Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand, on Feb. 24, 2012. He has been on the FBI’s Most Wanted List since the kidnapping.
Jeffery was arrested in Bangkok by the FBI on a federal warrant for international parental kidnapping charges and arraigned in Los Angeles, Calif. Jeffery Shipman is currently in the custody of the United States marshals and will eventually be returned to Onondaga County for further court appearances.
Deonna Shipman has been returned to Onondaga County and is healthy. Deonna’s mother is currently returning from Russia to be reunited with her daughter.
The FBI is the lead on this case.
