A family court judge has described the story of three abandoned siblings in East London as "quite extraordinary" as she ruled that the youngest child is set to be adopted.
A Series of Heartbreaking Discoveries
The three children, known publicly as Harry, Roman, and Elsa, were each discovered abandoned in the Newham area over an eight-year period. Harry was the first, found wrapped in a white blanket in Balaam Street, Plaistow, in September 2017. Roman was next, discovered in a play area off Roman Road in late January 2019 during freezing weather.
The final child, Elsa, was found by a dog walker on January 18, 2024. She was believed to be only around an hour old, wrapped in a towel inside a reusable shopping bag at the junction of Greenway and High Street South in East Ham. Hospital staff named her Elsa after the character from the film Frozen.
Exhaustive Police Search Ends Without Answers
Despite an extensive and "tenacious" investigation by the Metropolitan Police, the children's parents have never been identified. Officers established a full DNA profile, reviewed hundreds of hours of CCTV, and even offered a £20,000 reward for information.
In a particularly intensive phase, the search narrowed to around 400 homes from which experts believed the person who abandoned the children may have travelled. Detective Superintendent Lewis Basford stated the investigation involved speaking with hundreds of people and complex familial DNA work across the country.
However, the Metropolitan Police has now confirmed their enquiries are "exhausted". Detective Inspector Jamie Humm, the senior investigating officer, said the case was "wholly unprecedented" and that they must conclude the person "did not want to be found". He added his belief that the mother is "vulnerable" and "in danger".
A New Chapter and a Permanent Family
At East London Family Court on Thursday, Judge Carol Atkinson ruled that Elsa, who has been thriving with foster carers, should remain in their care. This decision paves the way for them to apply to adopt her, following the path of her two older brothers, Harry and Roman, who have already been adopted.
In her judgment, Judge Atkinson noted the rarity of such cases, with only eight children registered as abandoned in England and Wales between 2008 and 2018. She described Elsa as "a beautiful little girl, a raucous bundle of excitement and laughter" who is "happy and settled in her new family".
The judge emphasised that the siblings' shared experience as foundlings is a unique bond, stating, "No one that they will meet in life is likely to understand what it is like to be a foundling, but they each know and understand."
Kate Claxton, representing Newham Council, confirmed in written submissions that there will be ongoing contact between the three siblings, including play dates and letters.
While the police investigation is currently at a standstill, officers have stated they "cannot discount" the possibility of a fourth child being found in the future. The force continues to urge anyone with information to come forward, prioritising the welfare of the children and their mother.
