On December 16, 1997, Elizabeth Ann Stratton fled her Antioch,
California, home with her two non-custodial children.
On December 19, 1997, a letter written by Stratton arrived at
the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office stating that
she had taken the children, left California, and did not want
anyone to find her or the children. Stratton was in the middle
of a child custody dispute with her ex-husband at the time.
Her vehicle was later found parked at the Sacramento International
Airport in Sacramento, California. It is believed that Stratton
may have made contact with a group in Atlanta,
Georgia, which assists women and children who claim to need protection
from abusive husbands and parents.
A local complaint and arrest warrant for Stratton were issued
by the Municipal Court in December of 1997 and she was charged
with parental kidnapping. A federal warrant for Stratton for
unlawful flight to avoid prosecution was obtained in the Northern
District of California on January 12, 1998.
Stratton's two children were both safely located in 2010. She remains a fugitive.
Stratton was a heavy smoker at the time of her disappearance. She may wear glasses. Stratton may have dyed her hair red or bleached it blonder. Stratton was issued a United States passport in August of 1997. She should be considered a flight risk.
