A British mother accused of abducting her two sons from their American father has been missing in the UK with them for more than three months. The father has now taken legal action in the High Court.
Nishika Samaratunga and her sons, five-year-old Blaine Baier and three-year-old Nathaniel Baier, have not been seen since March. The boys were born in the United States and lived with their father, Ben Baier, near Denver, Colorado.
They had travelled to the UK to visit their mother under a court-ordered arrangement after the parents divorced. Ms Samaratunga did not return the children to their father at a UK airport on March 29 as required.
Mr Baier has started High Court proceedings to secure their return. His lawyers expressed concern that the boys may not be attending school or receiving medical care.
Mr Baier said the collapse of the marriage had been difficult, but he never expected his ex-wife to abduct the children and hide them. Both boys have autism, and sudden changes to routine harm their development, he added. He urged her to return them and asked anyone with information to help.
The High Court allowed details of the case to be published to aid the search. The couple married in 2020 and separated in 2024. A Colorado court later ruled that Mr Baier should have primary custody.
Although the children were to remain in Colorado, the court allowed visits to their mother in England. After the second visit in March, Ms Samaratunga did not return them.
The High Court has ordered several organisations, including banks and utilities, to help locate her, but no information has been found. A Colorado judge authorised US law enforcement to take custody in April, citing imminent danger to the children.
Their lawyer said the abduction has had a deeply harmful impact and stressed the need to find the boys and return them safely.
