01/05/2007

egtor / Associated Press

A North Carolina woman accused of kidnapping her 17-month-old twins from their adoptive parents and taking them to Canada has been released on bail.

Allison Quets was released to the custody of two Canadian couples Thursday after almost $15,000 in bonds and cash were posted by Quets and the couples.

Quets will be staying with Mark Thompson, a retired police officer, and his wife Mary until Monday when she must report to Ottawa police and then return to the United States.

The other couple who vouched for Quets is Mark and Mary Jo Formosa, the owners of a bed and breakfast in Kingston where Quets stayed with her twins over Christmas.

In arguing that Quets be released on bail, her lawyer told Judge Charles Hackland that his client presents a low-flight risk. Jeff Schroeder said it has always been his client's intent to return to the United States to face charges there and to further pursue custody of her children.

"She's going to continue that fight. There is still an appeal in effect and that is what she intends to do Monday morning — voluntarily waive extradition and go back there and get her children back."

An FBI warrant was issued for Quets' arrest after she failed to return the twins to their adoptive parents in Apex, N.C., on Christmas Eve. Quets kept an apartment in nearby Durham, N.C., so she could see the twins while she appealed the adoption. She lives in Orlando, Fla.

Schroeder said Quets was "very emotional" upon hearing she was released on bail.

"She's still a little numb, I think from what has occurred over the last number of days, but also as a result of the immense show of support the Canadian people have shown her."

Quets says she was in the midst of a postpartum illness when she gave the newborns up for adoption.

A custody agreement allowed Quets to take the children for a brief visit Dec. 22-24, but authorities said she never returned them.

The FBI said an investigation indicated Quets crossed the Canadian border with the twins Dec. 23. She apparently spent five days tucked away with the twins at a bed and breakfast in Kingston, Ontario.