The National Police reported that Emily Cowboy Palii, a two-year-old girl, remains in good health after being abducted by her mother in Zaragoza on May 19. Family sources confirmed the information to this publication, noting that the child’s mother, Iryna Palii, carried out a border crossing and subsequently reunited with relatives in Ukraine and Crimea, taking the girl with her.
Following a court order from the Court of First Instance No. 16 in Zaragoza, which prohibited the minor from leaving the country without a trace of her whereabouts due to concerns that the mother might smuggle her abroad, the child nonetheless managed to cross the border before the measure became effective.
The girl’s father, Alejandro Vaquero, reported the disappearance to the National Police on May 19 after his ex-partner collected the child from his grandparents’ home under the pretense of taking him to a birthday party.
Reports indicate that Iryna, who carried an arrest warrant, crossed the Ukrainian border with Emily. Despite these events, Ukrainian authorities reportedly processed the case through standard channels. The situation has left many parents who face abduction scenarios in a vulnerable position, with families left to cope in the wake of such separations. This update is drawn from ongoing coverage by SOS Desaparecidos Aragón (Attribution: SOS Desaparecidos Aragón).
Authorities had observed, through neighborhood surveillance footage, that the mother left the residence with her daughter and suitcases, triggering heightened concern and a formal response from law enforcement. The same judge who previously handled the divorce proceedings, as well as custody matters, ordered that custody be awarded to the father and instructed relevant police forces to act to secure borders and prevent passport issuance for the child while the case is investigated.
The matter was added to the criminal investigation conducted by the Investigation Court No. 9 of Zaragoza, at the request of the father’s legal representative, with the crime described as child abduction. The narrative remains under review as authorities continue their work to locate the child and address the legal implications of the separation.
Emily Cowboy is described as tall for her age, with a straight blonde shoulder-length cut and brown-gray eyes. SOS Desaparecidos Aragón provides official channels for reporting any sightings or information that could assist in locating the child. Official contact details are shared through the organization’s coordinated communications channels and will be used to coordinate nationwide search efforts. The security forces continue to monitor and respond to this case as part of a broader pattern showing that parental abductions are monitored and acted upon regularly across the region (Attribution: SOS Desaparecidos Aragón).