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Child Abducted to Jordan: A Mother's Fight for Freedom
31 Oct
Summary
- Seven-year-old Lauren Burns was abducted by her father to Jordan in 1987.
- Her mother orchestrated an international rescue mission with help from friends.
- Burns later wrote a memoir detailing her abduction and recovery.
In 1987, seven-year-old Lauren Burns was abducted by her father and taken from Dallas to Jordan. Her mother, Cathy Mahone, learned of the abduction when Burns failed to appear at school. Facing a lack of extradition treaties, Mahone hired a security firm to bring her daughter home.
The rescue mission involved Mahone accompanying the team to Jordan, where she disguised herself to retrieve Burns from a school bus. They escaped to the United States, with Burns returning three months after her abduction.
Burns' childhood friend, Miranda Lambert, and her family played a crucial role in supporting Mahone during the ordeal. The incident profoundly impacted Burns, leading to frequent moves for her safety.
Her father was later indicted and received probation upon returning to the U.S. Burns eventually confronted him, understanding his desire to raise her within his culture and beliefs. Burns has since found healing through forgiveness and shares her story in her memoir, 'Stolen.'
