International Parental Kidnapper Sentenced

MOBILE, AL - An Oregon woman was sentenced to time served in prison for international parental kidnapping.

Haley Harris, 24, was found guilty after a bench trial on May 18, 2026. Harris, who was living in Mexico, traveled to Baldwin County on September 21, 2025, to regain physical custody of her minor child from the child's father, who was residing in Orange Beach. Harris represented to the child's father that she would be staying in Baldwin County and only wanted to visit with the child for a few days. Instead, Harris flew to California and entered Mexico with the minor child. Harris continued to mislead the child's father by telling him she was still in Baldwin County.

Agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, the United States Marshals Service, the Department of State, the Orange Beach Police Department, and the Baldwin County Sheriff's office worked together to locate the child in Mexico. The child was ultimately reunited with her father in the United States.

Harris was arrested in Mexico and deported to the United States on September 29, 2025, where she was formally charged. She remained incarcerated until after her bench trial.

Harris is subject to a one-year term of supervised release with the United States Probation Office. As conditions of her supervised release, Harris is prohibited from having contact with the minor victim or the victim's family and must participate in mental health treatment.

"A parent with lawful custody should never have to endure the fear and devastation of having a child secretly taken to another country," said HSI Special Agent in Charge Steven N. Schrank. "When this child was brought into Mexico, the risks increased and the need for immediate action became clear. HSI and our partners moved with urgency to help locate the child and bring her home. Harris' conviction and time behind bars reinforce the serious consequences of disregarding the law."

"The investigative response was immediate and aggressive, driven by exceptional coordination among local, state, federal, and international law enforcement partners," said Christopher R. Flowers, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Mobile Division. "That unified effort was critical to locating the child swiftly and ensuring her safe return. Actions like those of Ms. Harris will always be met with a relentless pursuit of justice by our law enforcement and prosecutorial team."

U.S. Attorney Sean Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement, stating: "This case demonstrates the importance of acting quickly when a child is unlawfully taken across international borders. The successful recovery of this child was made possible by the determination and cooperation of our federal, state, local, and international law enforcement partners. Our office will continue to vigorously prosecute those who violate federal law and endanger the safety and well-being of children."

The Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Marshals Service, the Orange Beach Police Department and the Baldwin County Sheriff's Office investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tandice Blackwood and Elizabeth Stepan prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.