British mother accused of abducting autistic sons

A British mother is accused of abducting her two young sons from their American father and has been missing with the children in the United Kingdom for nearly four months, prompting an urgent international search. Nishika Samaratunga, 34, allegedly failed to return her sons, five-year-old Blaine and three-year-old Nathaniel Baier, to their father, Ben Baier of Colorado, after a court-approved visit in March.

The boys, both of whom have autism, were due to be handed over to their father at a UK airport on March 29 but never arrived. Their father, who was awarded primary custody by a Colorado court in October 2025, has not seen them since. In mid-July, the High Court in London approved the public disclosure of case details to aid in tracing the children, after lawyers raised concerns that the boys were not enrolled in school or receiving necessary medical care.

Ben Baier, 43, stated that the collapse of his marriage had been difficult but that he never believed his ex-wife would abduct their children. He expressed deep concern over the impact of disrupted routines on his sons' well-being. He has appealed publicly for their safe return, asking anyone with information to come forward.