Nine-year-old Billy Hanson, whom the FBI reported kidnapped by his father earlier this month, has been located on the island country of Niue in the South Pacific. ADVERTISING Nine-year-old Billy Hanson, whom the FBI reported kidnapped by his father earlier
Nine-year-old Billy Hanson, whom the FBI reported kidnapped by his father earlier this month, has been located on the island country of Niue in the South Pacific.
Hanson was found safe on Wednesday, according to the FBI. His noncustodial father and alleged kidnapper, Jeffrey Ford Hanson is in custody in Niue.
Billy’s family has been notified and authorities are now working to reunite Billy with his mother, according to the FBI.
The FBI and the Seattle Police Department Major Crimes Task Force worked with local, state, federal, and international partners to locate Billy, who is from Hazleton, Penn., and was last seen with his father, Jeffrey, in Seattle.
A federal arrest warrant was issued for Billy’s father on Sept. 12 after he was charged with international parental kidnapping, according to the FBI.
The FBI and the Seattle Police Department Major Crimes Task Force is working with the U.S. Attorney’s Office on the extradition process. Once that is complete, US federal agents will bring the alleged kidnapper back to the US.
The joint investigation utilized the resources of the FBI, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Seattle Police Department’s Major Crimes Task Force, the Port of Seattle Police Department, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
