Birth Mother Returns to N.C. to Face Kidnapping Charges

Raleigh, N.C. — The birth mother accused of kidnapping her twins from their adoptive parents in Apex and fleeing to Canada is back in North Carolina.

Allison Quets arrived about 2:30 p.m. Friday at Raleigh-Durham International Airport, along with law enforcement officials. She was taken to the federal courthouse in Raleigh to face charges of international parental kidnapping.

U.S. District Judge William Webb set a Jan. 26 probable cause hearing and told Quets she faces a maximum penalty of three years in prison, one year on probation and a $250,000 fine.

Investigators said Quets, 49, was the subject of a four-day search across several states and into Canada nearly a month ago. Authorities said she didn't return the 17-month-old twins — Tyler and Holly Needham — whom she had given up for adoption to their Apex home after a scheduled visit.

A telephone tip led FBI agents to a house in Ottawa, Canada, where Quets was arrested. Despite her facing the kidnapping charges, Quets has said the children are constantly on her mind. The children have been returned to their adoptive parents, Denise and Kevin Needham.

Quets, who was handcuffed and shackled and wearing khaki green jail garb, was quiet and attentive during the 10-minute court hearing. She told Webb she has hired attorneys Dennis Sullivan and Bruce Mason to represent her and asked him to explain what would happen at the Jan. 26 hearing.

Quets is being held at the Wake County Jail until the Jan. 26 hearing, when prosecutors also plan to ask that she remain in custody until her trial.

"We're concerned with fighting the criminal charges at this point. That is first and foremost," Sullivan said after Friday's hearing. "Obviously, she's still seeking to have her children returned to her."

But local adoption attorney Mike Harrel said Quets' alleged actions could only hurt her case.

"It's obvious that she was caring for the children and that her intentions may have been good, but it clearly cannot help her in her contested adoption," he said.

Pat Kilbane, a Jacksonville, Fla., attorney for the Needhams, said neither he nor the couple was aware of Quets' return to Raleigh. The children are "doing amazing" since they have been returned to the Needhams, Kilbane said.

25 Comments

WRAL.com welcomes your comments on this story. All comments are moderated prior to publication based on our posting guidelines. Please review them prior to posting and if your message is not approved.

VIEW ALL 25 COMMENTS

This story is closed for comments. Comments on WRAL.com news stories are accepted and moderated between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Latest Comments

This woman needs a fair hearing and the right support and help. She had serious health problems and no family support. In her age to pregnate and having the blues before/after birth given birth in a state where is no change your mind once you sign the papers. After all who is the friend of the Needhams and helped them to find a mother in distress before birth???? How much was the person paid to look for the kids???? Each side needs to tell the truth and these children are not some pet's either. The court has given Ms Quets right to see her!!!! babies and she went out to fight to get them back from the getgo. Ms quets went out to make noise so she can have her babies back, I believe she knows the danger she got herself in by acting out like this stunt. A mother in a lot of pain and fed up with everything. The Needhams should looked within NC to find a child to adopt. But they wanted a baby!!! Money can buy you a pet not a child.

uteharrison
January 21, 2007 10:06 a.m.

I agree that the Needhams need all the support they can get. This chick Allison made her own bed and now needs to lay in it...behind bars! From what has been reported in various news outlets, she kept changing her mind and actually had a nanny for the kids for the weeks she had them before she made the decision to put them up for adoption. She knew full well what she was doing and now is just an attention seeking, crazy lady. Those kids are with their mom and dad (the Needhams) who obviously have thier best interest in mind. You don't see them or thier family and friends SHOWBOATING in the media.

The Needhams are the stablility Holly and Tyler deserve!! Thank goodness they are with them.

Mom on Call
January 20, 2007 4:34 p.m.

diyamonde, kids are not something you just "go to the adoption agency and get." They are not puppies! I do think giving up parental rights should be a final thing. Once you do it, it's like you don't have children. I don't know who should originally have had the children. I don't know all the facts. Sounds like something wasn't right on both sides, most likely. But after she kidnapped them, I don't think she should have her rights anymore. I know all you pro-birth mother groupies out there will disagree, but she DID show poor judgement, and that she has no regard for the law. She may have a bond with these kids, but she obviously didn't always because she did give them up. I know that the court process is long, drawn out, and painful, but it has been for the adoptive parents, too. And they allowed an adoption where the birth mother has monthly unsupervised visits with those kids... wow. I admire them for that. But I bet they regret it now.

wakeresident
January 20, 2007 8:17 a.m.

this crazy woman needs SOME SERIOUS HELP

brentsykes
January 20, 2007 3:00 a.m.

This situation will not improve anytime soon. These two kids are going to resent their birth mom for this (Ms. Quets). The only mind changing that should have been done was allowing this woman unsupervised visits with those children. The Needham's need all the support they can get. This ordeal has to be a constant pain for them.

Fence Straddler
January 20, 2007 12:21 a.m.