John Lennon and Yoko Ono were arrested in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, on 23 April 1971, during a highly charged attempt to regain custody of Ono’s daughter, Kyoko Cox.

The couple had arrived on the island the previous day after locating the seven-year-old, who was living with her father, Tony Cox, and his wife Melinda. Determined to reunite mother and child, Lennon and Ono, accompanied by assistant Dan Richter, travelled from Palma to the town of Manacor.

At around 1pm, they arrived outside Kyoko’s daycare nursery. During the children’s lunch break, Ono approached and took Kyoko back to the waiting car. The group then drove back to the Hotel Meliá in Palma, attempting to calm the distressed child along the way.

The situation escalated rapidly. Tony Cox alerted authorities, and the Guardia Civil placed the island on alert, monitoring all possible exit points. Lennon and Ono returned to their hotel at approximately 3pm, and were arrested two hours later.

Taken into custody, the pair were questioned alongside Cox, who was summoned to provide a statement before a local magistrate. Lennon and Ono maintained that Kyoko had willingly gone with her mother, stating:

“The child, recognizing her mother, ran forward and clung to her in an embrace.” Ono, they added, was “concerned about her daughter’s health, as she appeared to be running a fever,” prompting them to seek medical attention.

After approximately 14 hours in custody, Lennon and Ono were released. The magistrate ruled that Kyoko should be returned to Tony and Melinda Cox, and referred the incident to a Spanish court.

The episode marked one of the most painful chapters in Ono’s long custody battle. She would not see her daughter again until January 2001.

FAQs

Why were John Lennon and Yoko Ono in Mallorca?

They were attempting to regain custody of Ono’s daughter, Kyoko Cox, who was living there with her father.

What led to their arrest?

Ono took Kyoko from a daycare nursery in Manacor, prompting Tony Cox to alert authorities.

How long were Lennon and Ono detained?

They were held for approximately 14 hours before being released.

What was the legal outcome?

A magistrate ordered that Kyoko be returned to her father and referred the case to a Spanish court.

When did Yoko Ono see Kyoko again?

She was reunited with her daughter in January 2001.