A father is pleading with his former wife to take the necessary steps after she abducted their two sons and has been evading authorities in the United Kingdom for more than three months.
Nishika Samaratunga, a 34-year-old British national originally from Sri Lanka, is suspected of hiding her two sons, five-year-old Blaine Baier and three-year-old Nathaniel Baier, 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 had visited their mother in the UK in March for court-mandated contact following the parents’ separation. However, Ms. Samaratunga failed to return them to Mr. Baier at a UK airport on March 29, and their whereabouts remain unknown.
Mr. Baier, 43, has initiated legal proceedings in the High Court to secure the return of his sons. Concerns have been raised by his legal representatives regarding the boys’ well-being, as they are reportedly not attending school or receiving medical attention.
Expressing his distress over the situation, Mr. Baier stated, “The breakdown of my marriage has been extremely challenging, but I never anticipated that Nishika would take Blaine and Nathaniel and hide them from me, disrupting their lives in Colorado.”
He continued, “Both our children have autism, and sudden disruptions to their routine can severely impact their development and health.”
Appealing for the safe return of his sons, Mr. Baier urged Ms. Samaratunga to do the right thing and bring them back to him to resume their normal lives. He also called upon anyone with information on their location to assist in reuniting them with their family.
In efforts to locate the missing children, the High Court has authorized the disclosure of case details.
Mr. Baier and Ms. Samaratunga tied the knot in 2020, with Ms. Samaratunga relocating to the U.S. Their relationship soured in 2024, leading to legal disputes over custody arrangements.
Although a Colorado court ruled in favor of Mr. Baier as the primary custodial parent, it also allowed for the children to spend time with Ms. Samaratunga in London. However, she breached the court order by not returning the children to the U.S. after a visit in March.
Legal actions have been taken in both the U.K. and the U.S. to track down Ms. Samaratunga and ensure the safety of the children.
Representing Mr. Baier, Amy Rowe from Hunters Law LLP emphasized the urgent need to locate and bring the children back home safely.
Anyone with relevant information about Ms. Samaratunga and the children’s whereabouts is encouraged to reach out to Amy Rowe or Safina Mitha at Hunters Law securely.
