A British mother accused of abducting her two young sons from their American father has evaded authorities in the United Kingdom for more than three months. Nishika Samaratunga, a 34-year-old British citizen originally from Sri Lanka, is believed to have kidnapped her two 'vulnerable' children, prompting a US judge to express concern that they are 'in imminent danger', according to Mail Online.
Five-year-old Blaine Baier and three-year-old Nathaniel Baier, known as Nate, were born in America and were being cared for by their father, Ben Baier, who lives near Denver, Colorado. The boys visited their mother in the UK in March as part of a court-ordered visit following their parents' divorce. However, Ms Samaratunga failed to return them to Mr Baier at a UK airport on March 29, and she and the boys have not been seen since.
Father launches High Court proceedings
Mr Baier, 43, has begun High Court proceedings to try to secure his sons' return. His lawyers have raised concerns that the two boys do not appear to be attending school or nursery and are not receiving medical care. Mr Baier said: 'The collapse of my marriage has been an incredibly trying time, but I never believed that Nishika would abduct Blaine and Nathaniel and then conceal their whereabouts in an effort to keep them from me, uprooting them from their home in Colorado.'
'Both our children have autism, and such abrupt changes to their routine are incredibly damaging to their development and health. I'm calling for her to do the right thing and return them to me so they can return to their life as normal, and for anyone who knows where they are to help return them to their home. I can only pray for their safe return.'
Court allows publication of names and photos
The High Court has allowed the publication of the family's names and pictures to help locate the children in a special dispensation. The former couple married in 2020, and Ms Samaratunga moved to the US, but their relationship broke down in 2024. The mother then applied to a Colorado court to relocate the children to London in August last year, but returned to the UK the following month after this was refused.
She made further requests to relocate the children, but a Colorado court ordered in October that Mr Baier become their sons' primary custodial parent. While the US-based court ordered that the children must remain in the state, it also ordered Mr Baier to take the children to England on regular visits so they could spend time with Ms Samaratunga.
First visit went ahead, second ended in abduction
The first visit took place between December and January. But when Mr Baier went to the airport to take his sons back to the US following the second visit in March, Ms Samaratunga failed to return them, in breach of the order of the Colorado court. The High Court in London has since issued orders against several companies to trace Ms Samaratunga, including JP Morgan Chase, HSBC, Thames Water and the NHS, but no information has become available as to her whereabouts.
A judge in Colorado also authorised American law enforcement to take custody of the children in April, citing a 'credible risk that the children are in imminent danger'. They added that Ms Samaratunga had 'engaged in activities indicating a planned abduction' and had 'unilaterally prevented the children's court-ordered return'. This meant the children were 'presently physically and emotionally endangered'.
Lawyer stresses urgency of finding the boys
Amy Rowe, partner at Hunters Law LLP, representing Mr Baier, said: 'The court has rightly recognised the deeply harmful impact of abduction on Blaine and Nathaniel. These are two very young, vulnerable children and every day that they remain missing increases the concern for their welfare. It is imperative that they are found and returned home safely as soon as possible.'
