Turning in fugitive mother was 'heartwrenching'

Juliette Gilbert

A Rotorua real estate company employee says it was "heartwrenching" helping American and New Zealand authorities catch US fugitive Juliette Gilbert.

The woman was involved in the capture of Gilbert in Rotorua on Saturday morning.

Gilbert was wanted by the FBI after fleeing Washington in 2002 with her nine-year-old son Sky. American courts had awarded joint custody to Sky's father Roby.

The real estate company employee, who does not want her name or that of the real estate company revealed, said she was not sure she would have co-operated had she known Gilbert would be handcuffed and taken away in front of Sky.

Although the actual capture, which involved the Rotorua police and immigration officials, took place in a "low key manner", it had a terrible effect on the boy, she said.

"I don't think the little boy should have seen that. He was absolutely devastated.

"From a humanitarian point of view, I felt really terrible for the little boy ... If I had a choice, I would not have co-operated. I am a mother and a grandmother. I realise she broke the law but still ... It was a bit heartwrenching."

Gilbert spent the weekend in the Rotorua police station cells while Sky was placed in the custody of Child, Youth and Family.

Gilbert was to appear in Rotorua District Court today. She will be deported to the United States this week where the FBI will be waiting to make an arrest.

The woman said she understood Gilbert had been living in Rotorua for a while but had applied to the real estate company about a week ago to rent a house.

She said American law enforcement officials and the Immigration Service contacted the real estate company to get their co-operation catching Gilbert.

"We have been working with them for a little while. We had no choice but to co-operate. It was pretty intense and pretty involved."

The woman said it blew her away how much the American and immigration officials knew about Gilbert's movements.

"It's a bit scary. Big brother knows a lot about you ... I was just dealing with a client I didn't know anything about."

She said it was unbelievable that such a drama unfolded in Rotorua.

"I'm just a little old grandmother from Rotorua ... I can't believe I was able to keep a secret."

An Immigration Service spokeswoman said no further media releases would be made until Gilbert and Sky had left the country.

"We don't want a media circus over this and the case is sub judice (before the courts) in the US."

Gilbert will be escorted by the Immigration Department on a plane back to the United States this week where she will be met by the FBI, which has warrants for her arrest on charges of parental kidnapping and unlawful flight to avoid prosecution.

The 37-year-old, who is engaged to Tauranga man Craig Henwood, is a website artist.

- DAILY POST (ROTORUA)