LEADVILLE, Colo. -- The town of Leadville, Colo., is trying to make sense of how a local woman, reported missing in September, ended up at the center of an international terrorist investigation in Ireland.

"It's been the talk of the restaurant all morning," said Dave Wright, owner of Golden Burro Café. "Everyone's asking questions about what happened."

However, not many answers have been disclosed.

"In my nine years in law enforcement, I've never dealt with anything like this," said Leadville police Sgt. Saige Thomas.

Thomas was one of the first to learn of Jamie Paulin-Ramirez's arrest. She said Paulin-Ramirez's mother, Christine Mott, contacted her yesterday afternoon and said federal authorities informed her Paulin-Ramirez had been arrested in Ireland in connection with a murder plot.

The news was shocking to Thomas, who had been investigating Paulin-Ramirez in Sept. 2009 when she and her then 5-yr-old son were reported missing. Thomas helped track them to Ireland.

"I really though they'd spend a couple of weeks there, have a little vacation, and then be home," said Thomas.

Thomas said she drove by the family's home many times, hoping to see a young boy playing in the yard.

She said she never suspected Paulin-Ramirez was caught up in something criminal.

"We have no criminal history with her or anything. As far as we knew, she was an upstanding citizen," Thomas said.

However, in a town where most people who live there know each other, not many people seemed to know Paulin-Ramirez very well.

Family friend Margie Ciaccio told 7NEWS Paulin-Ramirez was even a mystery to her.

"Jamie kept to herself," said Ciaccio.

While the community struggles to make sense of what happened, residents turn their thoughts to the innocent child trapped in the middle.

"I think the most important thing is trying to bring that child back to the loving arms of his grandparents," said Leadville Mayor Bud Elliott.

Leadville police told 7NEWS it's believed the child is in custody of Irish authorities.

Local officials, including the mayor, said they hope to work with state and federal authorities to help bring the boy back home.