Helena Georgette Kikutu De Nogueira Ferrao, aged four, and her brother, Henrique, were last seen in Long Beach, California, on March 12, 2015. The children were allegedly abducted by their mother, Colette Okanya, who is not their custodial parent. A felony warrant for child custody deprivation was issued for Okanya on August 25, 2015.
The disappearance occurred after Okanya took the children to Uganda for what was supposed to be a five-week vacation with their father's permission.
However, they never returned. The children's father, Charles de Nogueira Ferrao, was subsequently awarded full, sole, legal, and physical custody of both Helena and Henrique by the Los Angeles Superior Court.
The case is being treated as an international parental kidnapping. Colette Okanya may be using the alias Sheila Komuntale. The investigation has involved the Long Beach Police Department and the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Child Abduction Unit. Authorities in California and federal agencies, as well as Interpol, are now involved in the case. There are ongoing diplomatic efforts between the United States, the European Union, and the government of Uganda to secure the return of the children.Last Seen: Mar 12, 2015
