Tiffany Rubin is a New York public school teacher whose 7-year-old son Kobe Lee was abducted by her ex-boyfriend Jeffrey Salko in September, 2007.http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/queens/2008/03/27/2008-03-27_queens_mom_finds_her_abducted_7yearold_s.html The two were sharing custody of the boy, and when facing up to six months in jail for failure to pay child support, Salko abducted the child and returned to his native South Korea.
Through Rubin's MySpace page, she received an anonymous tip from a person claiming to know exactly where her son was, and where he was going to school.http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-03-28-1256633553_x.htm With the help of the American Association for Lost Children as well as ex-CIA agent, Bazzel Baz, Rubin flew to South Korea, went into Kobe's classroom and asked the teacher if she could speak to Kobe. Rubin took him into the hallway, and disguised the child in a wig, so that they could leave the building. The immediately sought shelter at the U.S. Embassy until they could return to the U.S.http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/queens/2008/03/27/2008-03-27_queens_mom_finds_her_abducted_7yearold_s.html
Tiffany Rubin
Tiffany Rubin Background
Tiffany Rubin was separated from her husband Jeffrey Salko when their son, Kobe Lee, was four months old.http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-03-28-1256633553_x.htm Rubin, a teacher at a Queens, New York public school, initially had no idea how to pursue the lead she received about her son's location. According to one report, Rubin's sister-in-law provided the connection with the non-profit organization that helped her to investigate, travel and ultimately find her son, Kobe.http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/queens/2008/03/27/2008-03-27_queens_mom_finds_her_abducted_7yearold_s.html Rubin and the organization's investigator, Mark Miller, spent two months in the town of Gamsil, South Korea where the boy was living and attending school before attempting to make contact and recover him.http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/queens/2008/03/27/2008-03-27_queens_mom_finds_her_abducted_7yearold_s.html
Taken From Me: the Tiffany Rubin Story
This official trailer for the television movie "Taken from Me: the Tiffany Rubin Story" depicts the events that occurred during the abduction and recovery of Kobe Lee from South Korea. He was taken there by his father, a Korean national, without his mother's knowledge. She reportedly learned of his location through a tip on MySpace. After a personal investigation and international undercover surveillance, Rubin, with the help of Mark Miller, located Kobe and brought him home.
References
Fast Facts
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2007 abduction
Kobe Lee was allegedly taken while visiting his dad
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2008 recovery
Rubin traveled to Seoul, South Korea to find her son Kobe
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Surveillance
Rubin and investigator Miller spent two months undercover in the country
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Criminal charges
Salko, Kobe's father, still in South Korea, would face criminal charges if he returns to the U.S.
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Feature film
Lifetime television network premier January 31, 2011
