She said she was protecting her child.
The court says she broke the law.

In this episode of Fugitive Files, we examine the international custody battle turned federal case surrounding Marcelle Guimaraes, a Texas mother who allegedly fled to Brazil with her young son, Nicolas Scott Brann, in violation of a U.S. court order.

Federal prosecutors say Guimaraes defied a legal custody agreement and took her son out of the United States without permission, sparking a years-long legal standoff between two countries — and two families. She now faces charges of international parental kidnapping and conspiracy to obstruct parental rights.

But the story doesn't stop with Marcelle. Her parents, Carlos and Jemima Guimaraes, were also indicted, accused of helping orchestrate the move and concealment. Though granted bond, they were considered high flight risks due to dual citizenship and significant financial resources. Their trial drew national attention, with claims that evidence supporting a domestic violence defense was improperly excluded — and that the full truth was never allowed to surface.

We break down:

• The custody battle that led to Marcelle's disappearance

• The legal charges filed in both the U.S. and Brazil

• The high-stakes courtroom drama involving her wealthy parents

• The international tensions between parental protection and legal abduction

• And the haunting question: Was it kidnapping, or escape from abuse?

Marcelle remains at large, believed to be in Brazil with her son. A federal warrant for her arrest remains active.

This is Fugitive Files. Let’s get into it.