A British mother has been on the run for over three months, hiding her two young sons from their American father after failing to return them from a court-ordered visit to the UK. Nishika Samaratunga, 34, a British citizen originally from Sri Lanka, abducted five-year-old Blaine Baier and three-year-old Nathaniel, known as Nate, on March 29, 2026, when they were supposed to rejoin their father, Ben Baier, 43, at a UK airport. The boys, who have autism, had been living with their father near Denver, Colorado, after a Colorado court granted him primary custody in October 2025. The High Court in London has now authorised the release of details to help locate them, raising concerns about their welfare as they are not attending school or receiving medical care.
International parental child abduction occurs when one parent takes a child across national borders without the other parent's consent or in violation of a court order. It is a complex legal area that affects hundreds of UK families each year. In this case, Samaratunga originally applied to move the children to London in August 2025, but the Colorado court refused. She returned to the UK alone, and the court later ordered that the father become the primary custodial parent, while allowing the children to visit their mother in England. The second visit in March ended with Samaratunga failing to return them, breaching the Colorado order.
“Explains international parental child abduction using a real case, covering law, procedures, and impact on UK families.”
The UK is a signatory to the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, a treaty that aims to return abducted children to their country of habitual residence promptly. When a child is taken to the UK, the left-behind parent can apply to the UK Central Authority to seek return. However, exceptions exist, such as if returning the child would expose them to grave risk of harm. In this case, the Colorado court had previously noted a 'credible risk' that the children were in 'imminent danger', but the basis for that finding is not publicly known. The father has launched High Court proceedings, and orders have been issued against banks, utilities and the NHS to trace the mother, but she has evaded detection.
For UK readers, the case highlights the real-world impact of international family breakdown. British parents who marry abroad or have children with foreign nationals may face abduction risks if a relationship ends. The UK government advises parents to obtain court orders specifying custody and travel arrangements, and to consider port alerts if they fear abduction. If a child is taken to another Hague Convention country, the process for return can take months or years, and enforcement can be difficult. The boys' autism adds urgency, as routine disruption is particularly harmful. The father has appealed publicly for information, saying: 'I can only pray for their safe return.'
Q: What is international parental child abduction? It is the unlawful removal or retention of a child by one parent across international borders, violating the other parent's custody rights. The Hague Convention provides a legal framework for the child's prompt return to their country of habitual residence.
Q: What can a parent do if their child is abducted to another country? The left-behind parent should immediately contact their national Central Authority (in the UK, the International Child Abduction and Contact Unit) and the Central Authority of the country where the child is believed to be. They can also seek court orders, port alerts and media appeals to help locate the child.
Q: What are the chances of a child being returned in a Hague Convention case? Courts generally order return unless the abducting parent proves a grave risk of harm or that the child objects and is old enough to have their views considered. Each case is judged on its facts, and delays can be significant.
What happens next: The High Court has authorised the release of the case details to aid the search. The mother remains at large, and the father continues to pursue legal options to secure his sons' return. No information has been released on whether a formal Hague Convention application has been made, but the case underscores the ongoing challenges of international parental child abduction and the need for swift cooperation between countries.