Dorothy Lee Barnett to be extradited to US over kidnapping of daughter Savanna Todd

A DAUGHTER has described her mother as an “amazing woman”, despite kidnapping her almost two decades ago.

Savanna Todd pictured leaving Maroochydore Courthouse last November. Her mother Dorothy Barnett is in custody after being arrested 20 years after removing Savanna from the custody of her father in the United States. Picture: Jack Tran

A FATHER has lead the way for Australian authorities to locate his ex-wife, who fled the United States after kidnapping their 10-month-old daughter almost twenty years ago.

Benjamin Harris Todd has revealed his daughter, Savanna Todd, has been “reluctant to meet”, ever since finding out she was kidnapped by her mother at just 10-months.

“She only knows her mother and the misinformation that has been provided her. She likely would be considered by her mother to be disloyal if she were to meet [Todd] at this time,” a laywer for Mr Todd told the Daily Mail.

Dorothy Lee Barnett, 53, was arrested on the Sunshine Coast in 2013 after she allegedly fled the US with daughter, Savanna Todd, 19 years earlier.

The Queensland mother will be extradited to the US to face decades-old parental kidnapping charges.

Benjamin Todd was contacted by an Australian friend of Ms Barnett’s second husband, who had overheard a number of conversations that lead the friend to believe something was awry.

The friend allegedly heard Ms Barnett discussing a previous abusive relationship, and calling he daughter by her original name, Savanna.

Barnett was found living on the Sunshine Coast in November, 2013, while her daughter has reportedly changed her name to Samantha Geldenhuys and is still living in Queensland.

A search by the friend lead them to Ms Barnett’s trail, including wanted posters in relation to the disappearance of the couple’s daughter.

Savanna Todd was removed from the marital home by his then wife and lived under another name.

She was charged with parental kidnapping and falsifying passport documents, according to the ABC. She could face more than a decade in prison if she is convicted of the charges.

Barnett had lost custody rights and allegedly fled from Savanna’s father in South Carolina during an outing in 1994.

The couple separated in 1993 and Ms Barnett was allowed two supervised weekend visits a month, according to the Daily Mail.

Ms Barnett allegedly abducted her 10-month-old on the fifth visitation.

Police said the pair left for a birthday party and never returned. A US arrest warrant was issued the same year.

Barnett faced an extradition hearing in April where her lawyers appealed to the federal government to stop the extradition.

Savanna has stood by her mother during her appearances in court, holding a sign that reads, “We love you mum”. Ms Barnett reportedly winked back at her daughter.

A court document revealed Savanna describe her mother as “an amazing woman, having raised both myself and my brother and always giving us the support we needed to become the people that we are”.

But the federal Justice Minister, Michael Keenan, has ordered that Barnett be handed over.

The decision was reached following careful consideration of the provisions of Australia’s extradition law, a government spokesman said in a statement.

The minister also took into account representations made by and on behalf of Barnett.

The spokesman would not comment on the timing of her extradition as it was an operational matter.

“This is to ensure the safety of all persons involved and to uphold the integrity of the surrender process,” the statement said. Barnett also faces charges of falsifying passport documents. She remains in extradition custody in Queensland.

Queensland was not the initial first stop for the pair of runaways. After fleeing the United States, Ms Barnett took refuge in South Africa, marrying a man by the name of Juan Geldenhuys in 1995. Together, they had a son, now 17, before moving onto New Zealand and gaining citizenship.

After she split with Mr Geldenhuys, Ms Barnett moved north, to Queensland, with the two children. Police believe she used multiple aliases to escape.