Father Still Searching for Daughter Six Months Later

Pompano Beach dad says wife took toddler to Abu Dhabi last August

A South Florida father is engaged in a custody fight over a daughter he hasn't seen in six months, after her mother whisked her across the world to the Middle East.

Christopher Dahm says he'll bring his 18-month-old daughter Gabrielle back home even if it takes years.

"She is the happiest baby in the whole world," Dahm said Monday as he recalled the last time he saw little Gabby.

On Aug. 2, 2010, Dahm was pacing outside his Pompano Beach home, waiting for ex-wife Leslie Delbecq to drop off their daughter as part of their joint custody agreement.

"I immediately called hospitals, I called jails, I called morgues, I called the police," said Dahm.

But Gabbby was already on a plane, headed to Abu Dhabi, where Delbecq's parents live. The State Department later confirmed that three one-way tickets to the Middle East country had been bought in the names of Gabby, Delbecq and her mother.

The 34-year-old Dahm hasn't heard from or seen his baby girl since, and officials are having a hard time tracking them down too.

"The United States embassy in Abu Dhabi has been reaching out, they've been calling them continuously," Dahm said.

In September, a Broward Circuit Court judge granted full custody to Dahm after his ex-wife failed to return Gabby from Abu Dhabi voluntarily. The painfully slow legal process has prompted Dahm to reach out to Congressman Allen West and even "America's Most Wanted" host John Walsh.

"[Walsh] said that he's going to do everything he can to help us bring Gabby home," Dahm said.

Meanwhile Dahm is doing everything he can, and remains optimistic that Gabby will soon be back playing in her room. He says he's also been inspired by the custody battle over 9-year-old Sean Goldman, who was returned to his father in the U.S. after five years.

Dahm and his attorney, Douglas Reynolds, have a meeting with the U.S. Attorney's Office this week. They are hoping the U.S. government will indict his ex-wife on kidnapping charges.

"We have asked the U.S. attorney's office to now begin a criminal prosecution and they are investigating at this point in time," said Reynolds. "The FBI has been involved in investigations, we're also looking at diplomatic methods, we've contacted the office of the Department of State."

Realistically, international custody battles like these take at least two to three years. Dahm hopes he won't have to wait that long to be reunited with his daughter.

"I'm trusting our government to bring Gabby home," he said.

Dahm has also set up a website dedicated to his daughter, called helpsavegabby.com.

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