Leo Zagaris abducted by father in Marathon, Greece on Monday, October 31, 2011 at 10:19pm.Greek Fugitive Holds American Son Captive as Mother and Family Plead for his Return

A felony assault and immigration violation fugitive that fled the US in 2008 is holding his

American born son in Greece, defying authorities and the boy’s mother as they demand his return. Nikos Zagaris is unlawfully retaining his American minor son after his scheduled summer visit in Greece this year. The father is refusing to allow his son to return to the United States. Authorities are working with Greek law enforcement to secure the return of Leo Zagaris (10) to his mother, Alissa Zagaris, in Noblesville, Indiana.

Nikos Zagaris has refused to cooperate with authorities and has taken steps to transfer Greek citizenship to his son. It is not his first run-in with the law. Previously, Zagaris had been charged and convicted as an unlawful presence by US Immigration and barred from the US for 3 years in 2008.

There are outstanding warrants for his arrest in Hamilton County, IN, on felony battery charges as well as warrants for State tax evasion (3 counts for failure to claim gambling earnings.)

Zagaris’ American wife had left him in Sept 2007 because of his controlling and abusive ways. ICE was filing deportation charges against Zagaris around the same time. Zagaris was trying to convince his estranged wife to sponsor him for US citizenship and resolve his immigration issue. When she refused, Zagaris attacked her and he was arrested. Shortly after being bonded out, Nikos Zagaris chose to flee the US to avoid prosecution and returned to his home country of Greece.

In May, 2009, the wife and Nikos Zagaris, via a local attorney, were granted a divorce in Hamilton County and registered a custodial agreement with the court giving the wife custody of their son and the husband visitation privileges. Leo Zagaris first traveled to Greece June 2009. Leo traveled back and forth five separate times with no issues until summer of 2011 when Nikos began to apply for re-entry to the US and found that his past criminal charges impeded him in this process.

Initially, Nikos Zagaris was retaining the child in an attempt to coerse the mother to convince the Hamilton County Prosecutor to drop the assault charges against him; Zagaris claimed he could then apply for re-entry to the US and would return the child personally. Alissa Zagaris refused this and demanded the return of her son. Nikos, in failing to coerse his ex wife, decided to instead keep the child permanently stating he would revoke the mother's parental rights and revoke the child's rights as an American born & raised citizen. Leo Zagaris is believed to still be in Marathon, Greece. No contact has been made from Nikos Zagaris since October 10th and his last known whereabouts were at his family home in Marathon, Greece.

Currently the child’s mother, Alissa Zagaris, has opened a case in Leonidas (Leo) N. Zagaris' name with the U.S. State Department Consular Affairs, the Office of Children's Issues and has filed a Hague Civil Child Abduction Compliancy Action to facilitate the return her child. Criminal charges have also been filed and a warrant for Nikos Zagaris' arrest for custodial interference has been issued w/ $100,000 bond in Hamilton County, IN. The mother is also working with the FBI on filing Federal Parental Kidnapping charges.

An international social media effort to return Leo has emerged on Facebook. Family members and friends are making an effort to promote the Facebook page “Leo Zagaris abducted by father in Marathon, Greece” to anyone who can help or is concerned. Facebook users are encouraged to Like the page and spread the word in an effort to increase pressure on Greek authorities and the father to return Leo to his mother in the US.

Nikolaos L. Zagaris charges reference

Current Hamilton County, IN felony arrest warrant and charges 10/21/2011 case# 29D05-FD-015605

on charges of Interference with Custody and removal of child from state ($100,000 bond)

Case opened in the name of Leonidas (Leo) N. Zagaris under the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. US Department of State

Contact Ann McGahuey in the Office of Children's Issues (202) 736-9098

2008 case pending in Hamilton County, IN case # 29D05-0801-FD

2007 Homeland Security ICE alien identification # A088270384

Please call Alissa Zagaris with any questions @ 317-730-6080

Email aezagaris@att.net

Facebook page link “Leo Zagaris abducted by father in Marathon, Greece”

for photos and more information.

Thank you for your interest in this story.

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