A father is appealing to his former spouse to take appropriate action after she abducted her two sons and has been evading authorities in the United Kingdom for more than three months.
Nishika Samaratunga, aged 34, a British national originally from Sri Lanka, is suspected of hiding her two boys, five-year-old Blaine Baier and three-year-old Nathaniel Baier, also known as Nate.
The children, who were born in the U.S., were under the care of their father, Ben Baier, residing near Denver, Colorado.
Blaine and Nathaniel went to visit their mother in the UK in March for court-ordered contact following their parents’ divorce. However, Ms. Samaratunga failed to return them to Mr. Baier at a UK airport on March 29, and their whereabouts have remained unknown since then.
Mr. Baier, 43, has initiated legal proceedings in the High Court to seek the return of his sons. His legal team has expressed concerns that the boys have not been attending school or receiving medical attention.
In a statement, Mr. Baier expressed his disbelief over the situation, emphasizing the detrimental impact of the abduction on their children’s well-being, particularly considering their autism.
Efforts to trace Ms. Samaratunga have been intensified, with the High Court permitting the disclosure of case details to aid in locating the missing children.
The history of the couple’s relationship reveals a series of events leading up to the abduction, including court orders regarding custody and visitation rights.
The High Court in London has issued directives to various companies to assist in locating Ms. Samaratunga, while American law enforcement has been authorized to take custody of the children due to concerns for their safety.
Legal representatives emphasize the urgency of finding and safely returning the children, stressing the critical impact of their prolonged absence on their well-being.
Individuals with information on Ms. Samaratunga’s whereabouts are encouraged to reach out to the legal representatives handling the case.