Seattle Dad 'Made A Bad Decision' & Vanished With His Daughter

Julia Potter vanished with her father after he lost custody in 2014.

February 20, 2019

Julia Potter, age 5 and an image age-progressed to 9 [NCMEC]

By: Michelle Sigona

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SEATTLE, WA — On November 6, 2014, five-year-old Julia Potter disappeared from the life of her mother, Ralista Potter. Police believe Julia’s father, Jason Potter, abducted his daughter after losing a custody battle in King County Superior Court, even mentioning to his lawyer that he would be going “off the grid.”

Shortly after Julia vanished, a $250,000 federal warrant was issued for Jason’s arrest. He has now been wanted on felony kidnapping charges for more than four years.

Photo by: Jason Potter [NCMEC]

Jason Potter [NCMEC]

Early on in the case, Retired Detective Myrle Carner with the Crimestoppers of Puget Sound urged Jason to turn himself in, stating, “We’re not talking about a guy that’s necessarily a bad guy. We’re talking about a dad that’s made a bad decision.”

Since then, though, the hunt has intensified, with Ralista Potter working with private investigators and social media in hope that she will be reunited with her daughter.

Last year on the anniversary of the disappearance, Ralista posted on her Find Julie Potter Facebook page: “Today, five years ago, my dear girl was abducted. Her father decided to keep her away from me and from her happy childhood… Justice will triumph one day… Until then, I will keep seeing my girl at the face of every single girl I meet and my heart will weep from the pain of our forced separation.”

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children has created an age-progressed photo of what Julia may have looked like at nine.

TRAITS & CHARACTERISTICS:

JULIA POTTER:

Weight: 60 pounds
Height: 4 feet, 7 inches
Sex: Female
Race: Caucasian
Hair: Brown
Eyes: Hazel
Missing from: Seattle, WA
Missing since: November 6, 2014
Current age: 11

JASON POTTER:

Weight: 170 pounds
Height: 5 feet 10 inches
Sex: Male
Race: Caucasian
Hair: Brown
Eyes: Hazel
Age: 49
Date of birth: Sept. 16, 1969
Ties to: Tacoma; Bellingham,; Seattle; and Olympia, Washington

If you have any information about this case, please contact our hotline (833) 3-PURSUE or submit a tip online.

For more on this case, watch the “Deadly Double Life” episode of In Pursuit With John Walsh on Wednesday, February 20 at 10/9c on Investigation Discovery! Or catch up on ID GO.

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Seattle Dad 'Made A Bad Decision' & Vanished With His Daughter

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