Key facts
- British mother Nishika Samaratunga is suspected of abducting her two sons, Blaine and Nathaniel Baier.
- The children were not returned to their American father, Ben Baier, on March 29 after a visit to the UK.
- A Colorado court previously ruled that Ben Baier should be the primary custodial parent.
- American authorities were authorized to take custody of the children in April due to imminent danger.
- The High Court in London has issued directives to multiple firms to help locate the mother and children.
A British mother, Nishika Samaratunga, is suspected of parental child abduction after failing to return her two sons, Blaine and Nathaniel Baier, to their American father, Ben Baier, following a visit to the UK in March. The boys, who have autism, were born in America and had been living with their father near Denver, Colorado.
Ms. Samaratunga and the children have not been seen since March 29, when they were supposed to be handed back at a UK airport. Mr. Baier, 43, has launched High Court legal action in London to bring his sons home. His lawyers have expressed concerns that the children are not enrolled in school or receiving proper medical attention.
Mr. Baier stated that he never believed Ms. Samaratunga would abduct their children and expressed concern about the impact of routine changes on their development. He appealed for their safe return and for anyone with information to come forward.
A Colorado court had previously ruled in October that Mr. Baier should be the primary custodial parent, despite Ms. Samaratunga's attempts to relocate the children to London. In April, a Colorado judge authorized American authorities to assume custody of the youngsters, citing a "credible risk that the children are in imminent danger" and that Ms. Samaratunga had "engaged in activities indicating a planned abduction."
The High Court in London has issued directives to numerous firms, including JP Morgan Chase, HSBC, Thames Water, and the NHS, to aid in tracing Ms. Samaratunga and the children, but no intelligence has emerged regarding their location. Amy Rowe, partner at Hunters Law LLP, representing Mr. Baier, emphasized the deeply harmful impact of abduction on the vulnerable children and the urgency of their safe return.