You probably remember her as Agent Meredith Brody on NCIS: New Orleans or Petty Officer Jennifer Coates on JAG. She was a staple of CBS procedural dramas for years, the kind of actress whose face felt familiar to millions of viewers every Tuesday night. But then, she just stopped. No more credits, no more red carpets, and eventually, no more sightings. If you are wondering is Zoe McLellan still missing 2025, the short answer is: yes, legally and practically, she remains off the grid.
It has been nearly six years since anyone in the public or the legal system has seen McLellan or her son, Sebastian. This isn't just a "celebrity taking a break" situation. It is a high-stakes, international legal drama involving kidnapping warrants and a custody battle that turned incredibly dark.
The Timeline of the Disappearance
The last time Zoe McLellan was seen publicly was roughly April 2019. At that point, she was deep in a toxic custody dispute with her ex-husband, German actor Jean-Pierre Guy Gillain. To understand why a successful actress would walk away from a lucrative career, you have to look at the mess that preceded the vanishing act.
In 2017, the friction started when McLellan took Sebastian to Toronto to film Designated Survivor. Gillain claimed this was child abduction. A judge actually sided with McLellan then, noting that her work required travel and that the child seemed "emotionally secure" with her. But the peace didn't last.
By 2020, the situation took a horrific turn. Gillain was arrested in Louisiana on charges of first-degree rape and aggravated crime against nature involving their son. McLellan spoke to the media, calling herself a "warrior" for her child. However, the charges against Gillain were eventually dropped due to a lack of evidence. He was exonerated in the eyes of the law, but for McLellan, that seemingly wasn't enough to feel her son was safe.
She vanished shortly after.
Why the Warrant Still Stands in 2025
By May 2021, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office had seen enough of the empty chairs in court. They issued a felony arrest warrant for McLellan. The charges? Kidnapping, child custody deprivation, and child stealing.
As of early 2025, that warrant is still active.
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- The NCIC Number: W393704774
- The Status: Fugitive
- The Child: Sebastian Gillain is now a teenager (around 13 years old), and he remains listed on the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) website.
Honestly, it's wild to think that in an age of facial recognition and digital footprints, a Hollywood actress can stay hidden for over half a decade. Some people think she’s in Canada. Others think she’s tucked away in a remote part of Louisiana or even overseas. Her social media went dark years ago. Her lawyers stopped returning calls. She basically deleted her life.
The Two Sides of a Dark Story
Public opinion on this is split right down the middle, and it's easy to see why.
On one hand, you have the legal reality. A father has been cleared of charges and hasn't seen his son in years. From this perspective, McLellan is a "parental kidnapper" who defied court orders and robbed a father of his relationship with his child. His legal team has been vocal about wanting her brought to justice.
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On the other hand, you have the "Protective Parent" theory. Many fans and advocates believe McLellan is a hero who sacrificed everything—her wealth, her fame, her entire identity—to keep her son away from someone she believed was a predator. They point to the fact that Scott Bakula, her NCIS co-star, even testified as a character witness for her in earlier hearings. You don’t usually throw away a million-dollar career on a "whim." You do it because you’re terrified.
What Most People Get Wrong
People often assume that "missing" means she might be a victim of foul play. While that is always a terrifying possibility in long-term disappearances, the FBI and LAPD have consistently treated this as a parental abduction. They believe she is alive.
They believe she is hiding in plain sight.
Maybe she’s using a different name. Maybe she’s working a regular job in a town where nobody watches NCIS reruns. The reality is that as Sebastian gets older, the dynamic changes. He’s no longer a helpless toddler; he’s a teenager with access to the internet.
What Happens Next?
If Zoe McLellan is found or decides to surface in 2025, she won't just be heading back to a film set. She’ll be heading to a courtroom. The felony charges she faces carry significant prison time.
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If you have information, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office Child Abduction Unit is still the primary contact point. They have kept the case open and active.
Actionable Steps for Staying Informed:
- Check Official Databases: Always verify status via NCMEC (MissingKids.org) rather than tabloid rumors. Sebastian’s poster is updated with age-progressed photos periodically.
- Monitor Court Records: Los Angeles County court dockets are the first place any "surrender" or "capture" will be logged.
- Understand the Law: Research the "International Parental Kidnapping Crime Act" if you want to understand why this case is so legally complex across borders.
Ultimately, the Zoe McLellan story is a tragedy of a family completely destroyed. Whether she is a fugitive or a protector depends entirely on which side of the evidence you believe. For now, the "Wanted" poster remains the most recent picture the world has of her.