FSU Shooter Phoenix Ikner’s Mother Kidnapped Him & Fled To Norway Amid Custody Battle 10 Years Ago

Alessio AtriaApril 21, 2025, 2:24 pmDaily Digest, News >

Court documents disclosed that ten years ago, alleged Florida State University (FSU) shooter Phoenix Ikner was kidnapped by his mother, Anne-Mari Eriksen, who then fled to Norway with him amid a custody battle.

In March 2015, Eriksen violated a custody agreement by taking Phoenix to Norway under false pretenses. She told Christopher Ikner, her ex-husband and Phoenix’s father, that they were going to South Florida for spring break. Instead, she fled with him to Norway, sparking an international custody dispute.

This move was described in a probable cause affidavit from the Leon County Sheriff’s Office.

“Instead of staying in South Florida, the defendant allegedly fled the country with him in violation of their custody agreement,” the affidavit mentioned.

Christopher was not aware of Phoenix’s kidnapping until his son told him about it during a phone call.

While Eriksen had custody rights, the documents said she could not take the child out of the country without prior notice.

Christopher became worried and alerted the authorities once, saying his son “has developmental delays and special needs,” which he was concerned would not be fulfilled without the help of professional medical staff.

Phoenix was “on medication for several health and mental issues, including a growth hormone disorder and ADHD.”

Eriksen did not come back to the U.S. until July 27, 2015, when she was arrested at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport for unlawfully removing her son from Florida. She later pleaded no contest to her charge.

Three months later, she filed a lawsuit for slander and libel against Christopher, his wife Jessica Ikner, and two other relatives.

“The emotional and psychological harm done to the minor child will be evident for years and will require counseling, and given the child being the age of 11, will have memory impacted by the behaviors of all the defendants for the false claims done on his mother, and for the parental alienation of the close relationship of the minor child,” the suit said.

Eriksen sought $80,000 in damages, asserting that the amount would secure her son’s future, particularly his college expenses. In May 2016, a judge dismissed the suit.

During the fatal shooting at FSU on April 17, at least two people were killed, and six others were injured when shots rang out near the Tallahassee institution’s Student Union, officials stated during a press conference.

Officials also mentioned that first responders shot the suspect on campus, and he has since been hospitalized.

He was taken into custody with non-life-threatening injuries.

Sheriff Walter McNeil said Phoenix had access to one of his stepmother’s weapons, which had been one of the weapons found at the crime scene. He had a handgun and a shotgun with him during the time of the shooting, officials mentioned.

Jessica has been a deputy with the department for over 18 years, and McNeil stated, “Her service to this community has been exceptional.”

The sheriff also said that the suspect was a “long-standing member” of the Leon County Sheriff’s Office’s Youth Advisory Council.

Phoenix was “steeped in the Leon County Sheriff’s Office family,” McNeil noted.

“It’s not a surprise to us that he had access to weapons,” he added.