The mother of a young girl allegedly abducted nearly three years ago from Saanich was emotional as she spoke with reporters for the first time since learning her daughter is safe in Europe.
“How can I now express not only my happiness but also the turmoil that this situation has provoked?” asked Tasha Brown.
Twelve days ago, police told Brown her daughter Kaydance Etchells, now four years old, had been found with her estranged partner Lauren Etchells and Lauren’s parents on the shores of Jersey, a small island in the English Channel.
Lauren Etchells violated a court order when she left Canada three years ago with her new partner and their newborn son.
On July 1, authorities found Lauren with her two children and parents after they crossed the English Channel in this boat.
“It was completely surreal and I thought god this could have been a whole other heartbreak of a story. I’m so grateful it wasn’t,” said Brown.
Brown says she now has to get all the proper legal documentation from the Canadian courts before flying to Jersey.
Brown will face new legal challenges there.
“I’ve been informed by my lawyer in Jersey that although same-sex marriage is legal there, the law is still rather archaic and it doesn’t make any reference to same-sex parents and therefore strictly speaking, I may not fall within the definition of parent in Jersey,” said Brown.
A date for the hearing has yet to be set.
Lauren Etchells has been charged with abducting Kaydence and authorities are seeking her extradition to Canada.
Meanwhile, Kaydence is staying with a foster family in the U.K.
Family lawyer Elisabeth Strain says Brown needs financial assistance as legal bills and private investigation fees have neared $100,000 since Kaydence was abducted and they will only increase with the upcoming hearing.
If you’d like to support Brown, you can etransfer money to her. Her email is [email protected]
Kendall Hanson
