Using fake name, mother fled on private jet after trying to kidnap son, authorities say

A 55-year-old orthopedic surgeon was charged Monday with several felonies after authorities say she tried to kidnap her son — brutally beating a woman in the process — during a supervised visit in Goleta this month.

Authorities say Theresa Colosi was in the middle of a visit with her 12-year-old son shortly before 9:30 a.m. on Dec. 8 in the parking lot of Zodo’s Bowling and Beyond in Goleta when she began acting suspiciously, which caught the attention of a woman who had been tasked by the court with supervising their visit.

Seconds later, authorities say, Colosi swung a metal object at the woman, striking her in the head several times. The woman told the boy to run for help, and Colosi began to follow the child but then ran to her car and fled the area, Santa Barbara County sheriff’s officials said.

Detectives later learned that Colosi had chartered a private jet that departed Lompoc Airport shortly before 11 a.m. to Glacier International Airport in Montana. She had given away her belongings, withdrew $900,000 from her bank account and chartered the plane using fake names for herself, her son and her dog, leading detectives to believe she was trying to kidnap the boy, sheriff’s officials said.

Authorities coordinated with police in Whitefish, Mont., who conducted surveillance on Colosi’s suspected hideout. Three days later, detectives in Montana arrested her after she left the property in a cab. She was extradited back to California on Thursday and is being held in the Santa Barbara County jail without bail.

Colosi is facing attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, attempted kidnapping and attempted child-stealing charges, all felonies. She also is charged with a misdemeanor count of violating a court order and possible sentencing enhancements on allegations that she inflicted great bodily injury and used a deadly weapon in the scheme, according to court records.

Colosi is a licensed physician in California who specializes in orthopedic surgery and oncology, according to the state medical board. She also was credentialed to practice in Oregon until last year, when her license expired.