Coral Springs mother arrested after allegedly taking child to Trinidad and Tobago in violation of court-approved custody agreement
Coral Springs, Florida – A Coral Springs mother was arrested earlier this year after authorities said she took her child out of the United States without the father’s consent, sparking a high-profile custody dispute that stretched across international borders. Qwesha Eugenia Coutou, 44, reportedly fled with her child to Trinidad and Tobago, citing political reasons for her decision to delay returning to the United States.
The arrest warrant for Coutou was signed by a judge on October 22, following a prolonged investigation by the Coral Springs Police Department into allegations that she violated a court-approved parenting plan. Court documents indicate that the plan required both advance notice and consent from the child’s father before any out-of-state or international travel involving the child.
According to the arrest affidavit, the father first suspected that the custody arrangement had been broken during the summer. A FaceTime call revealed that the background appeared to be in Trinidad and Tobago, where the child’s grandparent resides. The discovery raised immediate concerns, prompting the father to contact authorities for a welfare check.
Investigators from the Coral Springs Police Department initially responded to the child’s listed Coral Springs residence, a condominium tied to Coutou. Officers reported that the unit appeared vacant, with no signs of recent occupancy. The apartment’s windows revealed an absence of furniture or personal effects, confirming for both the police and the father that the mother and child had left the area. Additional checks showed that while the condominium remained titled in Coutou’s name, it had been listed for sale earlier in the year.
Further investigation revealed that Coutou had relocated with the child to Trinidad and Tobago, enrolled the child in school there, and had assumed responsibility for the child’s education abroad. According to court records, Coutou reportedly told the father she would consider returning to the United States only “under a new United States administration.” This statement has become a focal point in the ongoing legal proceedings.
The father formally contacted the U.S. Department of State, which became involved in the international custody dispute. The case was submitted under the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, as outlined in the International Child Abduction Remedies Act, a federal law designed to facilitate the return of abducted children across international borders. The State Department’s involvement provided guidance to the father and law enforcement on steps to pursue the child’s return.
On January 30, Coutou was arrested by Coral Springs Police Department officers and transported to the Broward County Main Jail. She was later released after posting a $5,000 bond. Legal experts note that cases involving international relocation of children without consent are particularly complex, often involving both U.S. and foreign legal systems, and can take months or even years to resolve fully.
The case has drawn attention from local residents and legal advocates who emphasize the challenges that cross-border custody disputes present. Such cases not only involve questions of parental rights but also highlight the intricate interplay between family law, international law, and the protections provided under treaties like the Hague Convention.
Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the relocation, including the mother’s communications with the child’s father and any potential legal violations beyond the custody agreement. Both the father and mother’s legal representatives have been involved in the proceedings, and courts will determine how the child’s welfare and custody will be resolved.
As this case unfolds, it underscores the importance of following court-ordered parenting plans and the complexities that arise when a custodial parent moves a child internationally without consent. The Coral Springs Police Department and the U.S. Department of State have reaffirmed their commitment to assisting parents in resolving such disputes while prioritizing the safety and well-being of the child involved.
