An 86-year-old French woman has been deported from the United States after a judge determined her stepson exploited his federal government connections to have her detained by immigration authorities amid a dispute over her late husband's estate.
Marie-Therese Helene Claire Ross-Mahé was removed from the country on Thursday following her arrest by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers on April 1.
Calhoun County Probate Judge Shirley Millwood concluded that William "Tony" Ross, a former state trooper now employed by the federal government, contacted a colleague to arrange his stepmother's detention.
The judge wrote in her court order: "After the brothers were unsuccessful in coercing Ms Ross to accept their offer, this court believes William Anthony Ross used his position as a United States Federal Government employee for personal gain."
The couple met for the first time more than five decades ago.
They first encountered one another during the late 1960s when Bill Ross was stationed in France as a US Army officer, while Ms Ross-Mahé worked as a bilingual secretary at a Nato installation.
Following their initial meeting, the pair went their separate ways and established families of their own, before both eventually losing their spouses.
After reconnecting as widowers, they wed in April 2025, with Ms Ross-Mahé relocating to Anniston, Alabama, a modest town with a population of approximately 22,000.
William 'Tony' Ross used his position in federal government to get his stepmother arrested, a court alleges
|The retired Army Captain passed away on January 24 this year, leaving his bride of merely nine months a widow.
Ms Ross-Mahé had arrived in the US in June 2025 and was pursuing permanent residency when her husband died.
The inheritance at stake comprised of Mr Ross's home, valued at roughly £136,000, approximately £1,200 in cash, and personal belongings worth around £8,000, including a Mercedes-Benz C300 and a truck.
Ms Ross-Mahé informed her stepsons she had no interest in claiming her late husband's possessions and simply wanted sufficient funds to return to France and be with her children.
Nevertheless, Tony and his brother Gary, a US Coast Guard veteran, seized both vehicles from the property the day after their father died.
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Gary Ross, another of Bill's children, is said to have also aided his brother
|Within a week, the brothers attempted to compel their stepmother to surrender Mr Ross's mobile phone.
They subsequently disconnected the water, electricity and internet at the residence.
The pair also redirected all postal deliveries, including crucial immigration correspondence intended for Ms Ross-Mahé.
The brothers proposed paying her £8,000 to relinquish her estate rights.
Despite Tony Ross testifying that he never made any call or held any conversation requesting his stepmother's deportation, Judge Millwood pointed to compelling evidence suggesting otherwise.
The judge noted that Tony received communication from US Marshals the day prior to Ms Ross-Mahé's arrest, informing him she would be taken into custody.
Within an hour of immigration agents detaining the elderly woman at her home whilst she wore only her nightgown and dressing gown, Tony received a text message confirming she was in custody.
Upon learning of her detention, Tony notified Gary, who promptly travelled to the property with his wife and replaced all the locks.
Judge Millwood has called upon federal authorities to investigate the circumstances surrounding Ms Ross-Mahé's arrest.
Despite Judge Millwood's recommendation for a federal investigation, the 86-year-old was nonetheless deported to France.
A Department of Homeland Security spokesman confirmed her deportation, stating she had entered the country in June 2025 under the Visa Waiver Programme, which permitted a 90-day stay.
Her solicitor, Kimberly Willingham, said Ms Ross-Mahé arrived back in France exhausted and unwell.
"She was not given her meds while in the Louisiana facility," Ms Willingham stated, adding that medical appointments were scheduled.
The lawyer maintained her client had complied with all visa requirements and had attended an immigration appointment just days before her detention.
Ms Willingham noted the French consulate played a significant role in securing Ms Ross-Mahé's release, expressing gratitude to all who helped return her client home to her children.
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