Japan drops charges in U.S. custody case

TOKYO, Nov. 12 (UPI) -- Japanese authorities say they have officially dropped charges against a U.S. father for forcibly regaining custody of his two small children.

Christopher Savoie, 38, a Tennessee native and naturalized Japanese citizen, allegedly abducted 8-year-old Isaac and 6-year-old Rebecca as his ex-wife Noriko walked them to school on Sept. 28 in Yanagawa.

With the children in tow, Savoie was within steps of a U.S. consulate in Fukuoka where he hoped to get passports to return them to the United States when he was arrested.

The Savoies were living in Franklin, Tenn., when they were divorced and Noriko won custody of the children with the provision she remain in the United States.

When Savoie, who later won full custody, discovered his wife had returned to Japan with the children he gave chase. A U.S. arrest warrant was issued for Noriko but it was not recognized in Japan.

The prosecutor's office told CNN Savoie was released in October after promising not to take his children back to the United States "in this manner."

Savoie's current wife, Amy, said that her family has been ripped apart.

"Isaac and Rebecca had a very, very happy situation here in Tennessee," she said.

It was not clear what the next step would be. The couple were still considered married in Japan because they never divorced there, police said.