A fugitive American mother in New Zealand for three years eluding the FBI was caught and is now behind the bar in New Zealand.

The 37-year-old artist, Juliette Gilbert, from Washington state, who abducted his 9-year-old son Sky in April 2002 after United States courts awarded joint custody with her former husband, was detained by the police Saturday.

Authorities were tipped off when she went to real estate office in north island's Rotorua seeking a house to rent.

The Department of Labor's immigration service staff had been making inquiries in the Rotorua region for the overstayer but would give no further details.

Sky is now taken care by the Child, Youth and Family Services and the New Zealand authorities said the mother and son will be escorted on a flight to the United States "as soon as possible" this week.

Source: Xinhua