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A pastor has been arrested for allegedly helping a lesbian turned born-again Christian run away with her daughter to Central America.
At the same time it emerged Lisa Miller - and the nine-year-old girl - could be hiding out in a Nicaragua beach house connected to controversial preacher Jerry Falwell's Liberty University.
Now Tennessee pastor Timothy Miller has been arrested for aiding the alleged kidnap, the latest twist in a long-running custody battle between Miss Miller and her former partner, Janet Jenkins.
Miss Miller has been on the run with their daughter, Isabella, since 2009, when she lost a fiercely-fought custody battle following the couple's break-up.
After a lengthy investigation, the FBI arrested 34-year-old Mr Miller on Monday. It is not yet known if the two are related.
Officers claim he helped Miss Miller and her daughter fly to Mexico in 2009, and then assisted her in finding safe house in Nicaragua, where he used to work as an Amish-Mennonite missionary.
According to customer service notes uncovered by the FBI, the day before they flew, a man called Timothy Miller allegedly called TACA Airlines from Nicaragua.
He said Miss Miller and her daughter had to leave Canada the next day, and couldn't be routed through the U.S. He also approved the itinerary, the FBI claims.
In an arrest affidavit, the FBI produced emails and Facebook messages sent by Mr Miller which allegedly discuss the mother and daughter, who he refers to with the code names Sarah and Lydia.
In one, dated March 25, 2010, he wrote: 'I feel dearly for these two dear people. And I can see it would mean a lot to them in this rough first year of there stay in Nica.
'I would love for Lydia's birthday to be very special and remembered long. She is going through a lot, and her future looms greatly in front of her right now.'
In another conversation, he warned a correspondent they should not discuss Miss Miller's case.
He wrote: 'Sorry, folks, the Lisa subject should currently not be a topic of discussion or emailing.
'It might soon, or it just might be more of a secret. Please advise folks about this. Pray. Definitely pray.'
It seems Miss Miller is also connected to Liberty University, which was founded by Mr Falwell, the controversial preacher.
The fundamentalist pastor achieved notoriety after the September 11 attacks, which he blamed on the 'the pagans, and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays and the lesbians.'
Miss Miller had previously received help from the university's legal department, but a spokesman claimed not to have heard from her since 2009, when 'she just dropped off the face of the earth'.
And according to the FBI, the the beach house where she and her daughter are staying is owned by the father of Victoria Hyden, an administrative assistant at Liberty University.
The FBI alleges her father, Philip Zodhiates, is a 'Liberty Leader' - although the university claims he is neither an alumnus nor benefactor.
Mr Miller's arrest is the latest development in a long-running custody battle between Miss Miller and her lesbian partner, Miss Jenkins.
The couple were joined in a civil partnership in Vermont in 2000, and Miss Miller had Isabella in 2002.
Since then courts in Vermont and Virginia have ruled in favour of Miss Miller, although she repeatedly failed to appear.
Finally in November 2009, Rutland Family Court Judge William Cohen ordered her to surrender custody to Miss Jenkins.
Miss Miller failed to appear at a handover arranged for January 1, 2010 - by which time it is thought she was already long out of the country.
Isabella was immediately listed as missing by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and a federal arrest warrant was put out for Miss Miller.
The FBI has been searching for them ever since.
Today Miss Jenkins issued a statement through Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders, saying: 'I know very little at this point, but I really hope that this means that Isabella is safe and well.
'I am looking forward to having my daughter home safe with me very soon.'
Her lawyer, Sarah Star, called it the biggest development in the case so far. She said: 'Hopefully, it's a step in the right direction towards bringing Isabella home. That's the only thing Janet cares about. Hopefully, it also means that Isabella is safe.'
If convicted, Mr Miller could face a three-year prison term.
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