A woman accused of fleeing California with her son 26 years ago was arrested Monday night in Magna by investigators from the Orange County District Attorney's Office.
Kathleen Jane Amidon, 62, was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail for investigation of being a fugitive from justice. Two decades ago, however, she was known as Donna Marie Brewton, according to the Orange County DA's office. Brewton was wanted in California on a child abduction charge.
Brewton disappeared from her home in El Toro, Calif., now known as Lake Forest, in 1981 with her 6-year-old son, Kirk, according to a release from the Orange County DA. At the time, the boy's father had visitation rights on alternate weekends.
"On Jan. 17, 1981, Brewton/Amidon is accused of going into hiding with Kirk and concealing him. Brewton/Amidon is accused of quickly and quietly selling her home, suddenly quitting her job, telling no one of her plans and disappearing," the DA stated.
Since her disappearance, Brewton got a job with Westminster College. It was through her job that authorities in Orange County were able to track her down, according to the DA.
Brewton had worked at Westminster for the past seven years as an administrative assistant, according to the school.
About a week ago, investigators in California called the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office saying they had leads that Brewton was living in a house in Magna, said Salt Lake County Sheriff's Lt. Paul Jaroscak. Monday night, those investigators traveled to Utah and went to Brewton's home.
She was by herself at the home and answered the door, Jaroscak said. After talking to her for about an hour she was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail. Detectives said Brewton seemed very frightened about the boy's father finding out about her and what may happen to her. She also indicated she may have originally fled because of an ongoing domestic situation.
Gary Brewton received one brief phone message from Kirk in 1994, according to the Orange County DA. He has had no contact with him since then, and as of Tuesday investigators did not know the whereabouts of the now-adult son.
Donna Brewton is awaiting extradition to California.
E-mail: preavy@desnews.com