Zoe McLellan, the former NCIS: New Orleans and Designated Survivor actress, has not been publicly located since she disappeared with her young son on April 16, 2019. A Los Angeles County felony kidnapping warrant was issued for her on May 14, 2021, and as of the most recent available information both she and her son Sebastian Gillain remain missing according to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.1National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. Sebastian Gillain Missing Poster
How the Disappearance Happened
McLellan and Belgian-born actor Jean-Pierre Gillain divorced in 2016 and shared custody of Sebastian, born around 2013.2The Times-Picayune / NOLA.com. $1.25 Million Bond for Los Angeles Actor Accused of Raping Child in Jefferson Parish The custody dispute that followed was long and bitter.
McLellan alleged that Gillain had repeatedly abused their son at his home in Metairie, Louisiana, between 2014 and 2016. She said the child disclosed the abuse to her and to “doctors, lawyers and therapists,” and testified that her son told her Gillain had threatened to kill her if the boy revealed what had happened.3WDSU. Judge Sets Bail in Alleged Sex Abuse Case Involving Former NCIS Actor’s Child, Ex-Husband
According to Gillain and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, McLellan vanished with Sebastian from Los Angeles on April 16, 2019.1National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. Sebastian Gillain Missing Poster That was months before Gillain’s own arrest in the Louisiana abuse case.
The Criminal Case Against the Father Collapsed
The Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office investigated after a disclosure the child made to a therapist in late 2018. Gillain was arrested in Los Angeles, extradited to Louisiana, and booked into the parish jail on January 22, 2020, on felony charges of first-degree rape and aggravated crime against nature. A judge set bond at $1.25 million, ordered him to surrender his U.S. and Belgian passports, and issued an 18-month protective order.2The Times-Picayune / NOLA.com. $1.25 Million Bond for Los Angeles Actor Accused of Raping Child in Jefferson Parish
On May 8, 2020, after Gillain had spent four months in jail, the Jefferson Parish District Attorney’s Office dropped the charges, citing “insufficient evidence.” His attorney, Steven Lemoine, said there was “no corroboration for the things that the little boy said” and pointed to “so many contradictions.” A commissioner ordered Gillain released that same day.4The Times-Picayune / NOLA.com. Charges Dropped Against Los Angeles Actor Accused of Raping Child in Metairie
McLellan had already been gone roughly a year by the time the charges were dismissed.
The Kidnapping Warrant
Gillain filed charges against McLellan alleging child custody deprivation and child stealing.5Castanet. NCIS Star Zoe McLellan Sought for Kidnapping Son During Custody Battle On May 14, 2021, a felony kidnapping warrant was issued for her out of Los Angeles County, and the case was assigned to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Child Abduction Unit. Court records list charges under California Penal Code sections 207(a) (kidnapping), 278.5(a) (child custody deprivation), and 278 (child stealing).1National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. Sebastian Gillain Missing Poster
California law does recognize a narrow defense for a parent who takes a child based on a good-faith belief of imminent harm, under Penal Code section 278.7, but it requires the parent to report to the district attorney’s office within a specified timeframe. Whether McLellan has invoked or could invoke that defense is not publicly known.6WomensLaw.org. California Parental Kidnapping
Gillain’s attorney, Lawrence Markey, has said publicly that the child remains missing and is believed to be with his mother.5Castanet. NCIS Star Zoe McLellan Sought for Kidnapping Son During Custody Battle
Where Things Stand Now
Sebastian Gillain, now approximately 13 years old, is still listed as a missing child by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children under case number 1418920. The organization has published age-progression photos showing him as he would appear at age 12. McLellan, now 51, is listed as the suspect and remains the subject of the outstanding felony kidnapping warrant.1National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. Sebastian Gillain Missing Poster
There is no public indication that McLellan has been arrested, that the warrant has been resolved, or that Sebastian has been located. The contact authority for the case is the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of McLellan or her son can also report tips through the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.