BUFFALO, N.Y. — A woman who has been at the center of an alleged parental kidnapping scheme has been arraigned in the U.S. Western District of New York on charges of conspiracy and international parental kidnapping.
Lisa Miller, 52, is accused of bringing her seven-year-old daughter from Virginia to Toronto, and then flying to Nicaragua, in 2019. Her former partner from a civil union in Vermont, Janet Jenkins, also had custody of the child.
According to the US Attorney's office, Lisa was trying to prevent Jenkins from seeing their daughter.
It is believed that Miller has been living in Nicaragua since 2009, but the United States Attorney's Office says she recently surrendered at the U.S. Embassy.
Three other defendants have been charged and convicted in this case, for their assistance in getting Miller and her daughter to the South American country. Philip Zodhiates, Kenneth Miller and Timothy Miller were all convicted of crimes relating to the kidnapping.
The US Attorney's Office says Zodhiates helped plan the kidnapping and got Kenneth Miller, who is a Mennonite pastor, involved. Zodhiates was sentenced to serve 36 months in prison, while Kenneth Miller was sentenced to 27 months in prison.
The US Attorney's Office says Timothy Miller was involved in the plot financially, buying the plane tickets out of Toronto and providing her shelter in Nicaragua. Timothy Miller was sentenced to eight months (time served) for his role.
If convicted, Lisa's charges carry a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The court says Lisa will be arraigned on Friday at 1 p.m.
