A British mother who abducted her two sons from their American father has been evading authorities in the UK for more than three months, according to court documents. Nishika Samaratunga, 34, originally from Sri Lanka, is suspected of hiding five-year-old Blaine Baier and three-year-old Nathaniel Baier, known as Nate, after failing to return them to their father, Ben Baier, at a UK airport on March 29, 2026.
Background of the case
The boys were born in the United States and lived with their father near Denver, Colorado, following the couple's divorce. As part of court-ordered contact, the children visited their mother in the UK in March 2026. However, Ms Samaratunga did not return them to Mr Baier at the airport, and neither she nor the boys have been seen since.
Mr Baier, 43, has initiated High Court proceedings to secure his sons' return. His solicitors have expressed concerns that the children are not attending school or nursery and are not receiving medical care. Both boys have autism, and their father says the abrupt changes to their routine are damaging to their development and health.
Court orders and legal actions
The High Court in London has issued orders against several companies, including JP Morgan Chase, HSBC, Thames Water, and the NHS, to trace Ms Samaratunga, but no information has been found. A Colorado judge authorised US law enforcement to take custody of the children in April, citing a credible risk of imminent danger. The judge noted that Ms Samaratunga had engaged in activities indicating a planned abduction and had unilaterally prevented the children's court-ordered return.
Mr Baier stated: "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."
Timeline of events
Ms Samaratunga relocated to the US after marrying Mr Baier in 2020, but the marriage collapsed in 2024. She petitioned a Colorado court to move the children to London in August 2024, but the request was rejected. She made further applications, but in October 2024, the court ruled that Mr Baier should be the primary custodial parent. The Colorado court ordered that the children must stay in the state but allowed visits to England. An initial visit occurred between December 2025 and January 2026. During the second visit, Ms Samaratunga failed to return the children in March 2026, breaching the court order.
Concerns for the children's welfare
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."
Anyone with information regarding Ms Samaratunga and the boys' whereabouts can contact Amy Rowe or Safina Mitha at Hunters Law confidentially.
