Woman charged with kidnapping Utah child, hiding at religious compound for over a year
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — A Murray, Utah, woman who had previously lost custody of her child is charged after allegedly kidnapping the child from Utah with the help of others and taking the child to live at a religious compound in Missouri, according to the U.S. Dept. of Justice.
Kimberly Dell Davidson-Drolet, 53, of Murray, had a warrant issued for her arrest on Dec. 20, 2023, after allegedly kidnapping her “non-custodial child” from Utah, according to a press release from the DOJ.
She reportedly took the child to Springfield, Missouri, in Jan. 2023, where they stayed for more than a year, through June 2024.
Drolet was assisted in the kidnapping by her son Jaxson Davidson, 30, of Washington, Utah, according to the DOJ. Dallas Davidson, 23, of Washington, and Kristine Merrill, 53, of Murray, allegedly also conspired with Drolet, who officials said began planning the kidnapping 14 months in advance and used burner flip phones and lies to evade capture.
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According to court documents, Drolet went to great lengths to conceal her and the child’s whereabouts, forming an “elaborate plan” to take the child out of Utah. Drolet and her son Jaxson Davidson reportedly left Utah with the child and drove to Missouri — with the help of Merill.
After fleeing the state, Drolet reportedly remained at large for over a year, hiding the child from her custodial father and law enforcement.
“Throughout the kidnapping, Merrill, J. Davidson, and D. Davidson continued to hide Drolet and the child’s location from law enforcement. Prior to Drolet’s arrest, she was observed with the child who was located at a religious compound led by a religious cult leader, who is also related to Drolet,” the DOJ release states.
It is unclear how Drolet and the religious cult leader are related, as well as the size and nature of the cult.
Drolet, Jaxson and Dallas Davidson, and Merrill are charged with kidnapping and conspiracy to commit kidnapping. Drolet’s first appearance on the indictment is scheduled for Aug. 13, 2024, at 1:45 p.m. in courtroom 8.4 at the United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City.
Jaxson and Dallas Davidson, as well as Merrill, are not yet scheduled.
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