A Georgia woman was arrested in Dubrovnik, Croatia, amid an international search tied to a Utah mother accused of taking her four children overseas in violation of a custody order, according to local and national reports.Lovie McVeigh, 49, has been living in Croatia for about 18 months and was identified by Douglas Now as the American host connected to Elleshia Seymour, a Utah woman whose TikTok posts about apocalyptic dreams preceded her disappearance with her children in late November 2025.Croatian authorities detained Seymour, 35, in January, Croatia’s foreign ministry confirmed in an email to The Associated Press. Seymour faces four counts of custodial interference in Salt Lake County, Utah, after authorities alleged she removed the children from the state despite not being entitled to custody.Georgia link: Host family tied to Coffee CountyDouglas Now reported that Seymour was staying in Dubrovnik with McVeigh and McVeigh’s 13-year-old son when authorities located her. The report said McVeigh and Seymour connected through social media.Coffee County Sheriff’s Department records list McVeigh as having a residence in the county. Coffee County court records show McVeigh has two pending felony cases and an active misdemeanor criminal trespassing warrant, and the district attorney confirmed those matters to WALB.The sheriff’s department declined to release information about whether McVeigh could face charges in Georgia.Arrest in Croatia and child welfare concernsCroatian authorities arrested McVeigh on suspicion of child endangerment, Douglas Now reported. Confirmed details about the allegations were limited.Saige Cruz, McVeigh’s former stepdaughter, told WALB that McVeigh posted similar end-times content online as Seymour. Cruz said the family believes McVeigh should be held accountable and is working with the U.S. Embassy and Croatian authorities to bring McVeigh’s 13-year-old son back to the United States.Cruz said the child remained in a Croatian orphanage following McVeigh’s detention.Utah case: Seymour detained, children separatedSeymour’s children — ages 11, 8, 7 and 3 — were placed in foster custody in Croatia while their father, Kendall Seymour, works to return them to the U.S., he told the AP. He said he has power of attorney for the child who is not his.Kendall Seymour told the AP that one of the children alerted a member of the host family, prompting the tip that led authorities to Seymour. Utah prosecutors said they are exploring extradition options with federal partners, the AP reported.TRENDING STORIESVideo shows police responding to gunfire outside Georgia nightclubFBI: More than 50 people arrested in Glynn County drug raidAuto parts maker bringing 200 new jobs to Emanuel County
A Georgia woman was arrested in Dubrovnik, Croatia, amid an international search tied to a Utah mother accused of taking her four children overseas in violation of a custody order, according to local and national reports.
Lovie McVeigh, 49, has been living in Croatia for about 18 months and was identified by Douglas Now as the American host connected to Elleshia Seymour, a Utah woman whose TikTok posts about apocalyptic dreams preceded her disappearance with her children in late November 2025.
Croatian authorities detained Seymour, 35, in January, Croatia’s foreign ministry confirmed in an email to The Associated Press. Seymour faces four counts of custodial interference in Salt Lake County, Utah, after authorities alleged she removed the children from the state despite not being entitled to custody.
Georgia link: Host family tied to Coffee County
Douglas Now reported that Seymour was staying in Dubrovnik with McVeigh and McVeigh’s 13-year-old son when authorities located her. The report said McVeigh and Seymour connected through social media.
Coffee County Sheriff’s Department records list McVeigh as having a residence in the county. Coffee County court records show McVeigh has two pending felony cases and an active misdemeanor criminal trespassing warrant, and the district attorney confirmed those matters to WALB.
The sheriff’s department declined to release information about whether McVeigh could face charges in Georgia.
Arrest in Croatia and child welfare concerns
Croatian authorities arrested McVeigh on suspicion of child endangerment, Douglas Now reported. Confirmed details about the allegations were limited.
Saige Cruz, McVeigh’s former stepdaughter, told WALB that McVeigh posted similar end-times content online as Seymour. Cruz said the family believes McVeigh should be held accountable and is working with the U.S. Embassy and Croatian authorities to bring McVeigh’s 13-year-old son back to the United States.
Cruz said the child remained in a Croatian orphanage following McVeigh’s detention.
Utah case: Seymour detained, children separated
Seymour’s children — ages 11, 8, 7 and 3 — were placed in foster custody in Croatia while their father, Kendall Seymour, works to return them to the U.S., he told the AP. He said he has power of attorney for the child who is not his.
Kendall Seymour told the AP that one of the children alerted a member of the host family, prompting the tip that led authorities to Seymour. Utah prosecutors said they are exploring extradition options with federal partners, the AP reported.
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