Child Abduction

• Author: International Law Group
• Pages: 187-189

Ivan Nicholas Robert (Petitioner), a citizen of France, married Gayle M. Tesson (Respondent), as citizen of the United States, on January 6, 1996 in

France. They had meet in 1994 in Houston, Texas where Petitioner was training to be a helicopter pilot. On May 22, 1997 Respondent gave birth to twin boys, Thomas J. Robert and Alexis E. Robert in Houston, Texas.

In December of 1998 the family moved to France, after establishing a French company called SCI-TAGIR, which was used to purchase a lot in Cabris, France. The family lived in an apartment near the lot they had purchased until July 1999, when the parties decided that their marriage was not working, and separated. Respondent took the boys to Baton Rouge where they lived in a rented apartment and the boys attended school.

In September of 2001 the Respondent and the boys returned to France to reunite with Petitioner. The parties agreed to purchase and renovate a rustic house named "Mas Verdoline", which lacked electricity and running water. The family lived in a rental in Cabris during their stay in France because the renovations on Mas Verdoline had not been completed. The boys attended French school and became fluent in French during this time. The marriage became strained once again and in July of 2002, Respondent left to take a temporary position in Denver, Colorado. The boys stayed in France with Petitioner due to the demanding nature of Respondents employment.

Respondent returned to France in November of 2002 and returned to Denver with the boys in December of 2002. The boys attended school in Denver and had little contact with the Petitioner during this time. In September of 2003, Respondent took the boys back to France after purchasing round trip tickets with a return date of October 8, 2003. The family stayed together at Mas Verdoline and the boys were enrolled in French school. On October 8, 2003 the parties had an argument after which the Petitioner left the house alone. Respondent took the children back to Denver while the Petitioner was away, leaving a note stating that Respondent was taking the children to see sick mother.

Respondent filed for legal separation from Petitioner in Ohio on December 3, 2003. Petitioner filed for divorce in a French court on January 23, 2004 and then filed a criminal complaint alleging that Respondent had abducted the children. The French court granted temporary custody of the boys to Petitioner on September 22, 2004. Respondent was convicted of...