John Lennon and Yoko Ono were arrested in Palma de Mallorca in Spain on 23 April 1971.
They had travelled to Mallorca the previous day, attempting to gain custody of Ono’s daughter Kyoko. The seven-year-old was living on the island with her father Tony Cox and his wife Melinda.
Lennon and Ono’s assistant Dan Richter drove them from Palma de Mallorca to Manacor, on the east of the island. At around 1pm he pulled up outside the daycare nursery which Kyoko attended. The children were on their lunchtime break, and Ono walked from the car to the nursery, picked up Kyoko, and took her to the car.
Lennon and Ono attempted to soothe the frightened girl while Richter drove them back to the Hotel Melia in Palma de Mallorca.
Tony Cox was immediately informed that Kyoko was missing, and informed the Guardia Civil. Police officers were stationed at all exits from the island to watch for her.
Lennon and Ono returned to their hotel at around 3pm, and two hours later were arrested and taken into police custody, where they were questioned. Cox was also summoned and a local magistrate heard his statement.
Lennon and Ono claimed that Kyoko had joined them voluntarily. “The child, recognizing her mother, ran forward and clung to her in an embrace,” their statement read. Ono, it continued, was “concerned about her daughter’s health, as she appeared to be running a fever. It was therefore decided to call a doctor who after examination prescribed a medication.” They signed a Spanish translation of the statement.
They spent around 14 hours at the police station before being released. The magistrate decreed that Kyoko should return to Tony and Melinda Cox, and that the abduction incident should be referred to a Spanish court.
Yoko Ono did not see Kyoko again until January 2001.