Ex-Gay Mother Behind Bars Twelve Years After Custody Dispute Resulted In Kidnapping Her Child To Nicaragua

February 9, 2021 Christianists, Crime

Vermont Digger reports:

A former Vermont woman, accused of kidnapping when she fled the country more than a decade ago, is now behind bars. Lisa Miller had fled the United States in a child custody dispute with her former civil union partner, Janet Jenkins.

After more than 10 years, Miller turned herself in to authorities in Nicaragua, and was listed Monday afternoon as an inmate at a federal detention center in Miami.

A federal judge in Florida ordered that she stay in jail until her case can be transferred to a federal court in the western district of New York, where the kidnapping charges were brought.

The SPLC reports:

Jenkins v. Miller is a federal case in Vermont brought by a lesbian woman, Janet Jenkins, against her former civil union partner, Lisa Miller, who “renounced” homosexuality and kidnapped their then 7-year-old daughter, Isabella, in 2009 to avoid shared visitation and custody with Jenkins.

After breaking off their Vermont civil union, Lisa, the child’s biological mother, took their daughter to Virginia in 2004. Lisa converted to fundamentalist Christianity and began withholding Isabella from Janet.

A custody battle ensued in both the Vermont and Virginia courts. The Vermont courts awarded visitation rights to Janet and the Virginia courts upheld the Vermont decision. SPLC-designated hate group Liberty Counsel represented Lisa in the custody litigations.

A longtime JMG readers will recall, I’ve been reporting on this case since the early years of JMG. The links below are in reverse chronological order going back to 2009.

PREVIOUSLY ON JMG: Christian activist sentenced to three years in prison for his role in the kidnapping. Federal court allows lesbian mom to sue Liberty Counsel and Mat Staver for their alleged role in the kidnapping. Federal appeals court upholds conviction of Mennonite pastor for his role in the kidnapping. Hate group leader Tony Perkins endorses kidnapping the children of gay parents. Nicaraguan pastors vow to die or go to prison before giving up kidnapped child. Lesbian mom of kidnapped child sues Liberty University and other Christian groups for their alleged role in the kidnapping. Hate group leader Bryan Fischer calls for an underground railroad to aid in the kidnapping of the children of gay parents. Bryan Fischer calls Lisa Miller the Rosa Parks of kidnappers. Then-Liberty Counsel attorney Matt Barber accuses the court of kidnapping the child from her ex-gay mother. The US Supreme Court declines to hear appeal after custody is awarded to lesbian mom. Vermont judge issues arrest warrant for Lisa Miller.



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