Non-Custodial Mother Arrested and Accused of Taking a Utah Child to Live at a Religious Compound in Missouri

Salt Lake City, Utah – A federal grand jury returned an indictment this week charging a noncustodial mother, her sister and others with kidnapping after allegedly taking a child from Utah to live at a religious compound in Missouri. 

According to court documents, Kimberly Dell Davidson-Drolet, 53, of Murray, Utah, had a warrant issued for her arrest on December 20, 2023, after she allegedly kidnapped her non-custodial child from Utah to Springfield, Missouri, in January 2023 through June 2024. Drolet was assisted in the kidnapping by her son Jaxson Davidson 30, of Washington, Utah; Dallas Davidson, 23, of Washington, Utah; and Kristine Merrill, 53, of Murray, Utah. All of whom are now in custody. 

According to the complaint, Drolet used the United States Postal Service, cellular and other electronic devices, including a burner flip phone, to conceal her and the child’s whereabouts. Additionally, Drolet went through great lengths to avoid apprehension and formed an elaborate plan to take the child out of Utah with help from J. Davidson, D. Davidson and Merrill.  

As alleged, Drolet and J. Davison left the state of Utah, and drove to Missouri, and Merrill assisted in their departure. After fleeing the state and ignoring the order of the court regarding custody of the child, Drolet remained at large for over a year, and hid the child away from her custodial father and law enforcement. According to the indictment, Drolet planned the kidnapping for 14 months. Throughout the kidnapping, Merrill, J. Davidson, and D. Davidson continued to hide Drolet and the child’s location from law enforcement. Prior to Drolet’s arrest, she was observed with the child who was located at a religious compound led by a religious cult leader, who is also related to Drolet.

Drolet, Jaxson Davidson, Dallas Davidson, and Merrill are charged with kidnapping, and conspiracy to commit kidnapping. Drolet’s initial appearance on the indictment is scheduled for August 13, 2024, at 1:45 p.m. in courtroom 8.4 at the United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City. Jaxson Davidson, Dallas Davidson and Merrill have yet to be scheduled. 

United States Attorney, Trina A. Higgins, of the District of Utah made the announcement.

The case is being investigated jointly by the United States Marshals Service Violent Fugitive Apprehension Strike Team (VFAST), and the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office. Valuable assistance was provided by the Murray City Police Department. 

Assistant United States Attorney Carlos A. Esqueda of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah is prosecuting the case. 

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and other violent crime, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.

An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.