A British mother, identified as a tea company heiress, is accused of abducting her two young sons from their American father and remains at large in the UK.
Nishika Samaratunga, 34, a British citizen originally from Sri Lanka, is believed to be hiding five-year-old Blaine Baier and three-year-old Nathaniel Baier, also known as Nate. The boys were born in America and were under the care of their father, Ben Baier, near Denver, Colorado. A US judge has expressed concern that the children are vulnerable and in imminent danger.
Mr. Baier stated that his sons, both of whom have autism, were visiting their mother in the UK in March as part of a court-ordered arrangement following the couple's divorce. Ms. Samaratunga failed to return the children to Mr. Baier at a UK airport on March 29, breaching a Colorado court order that stipulated the boys must remain in Colorado.
Ms. Samaratunga is the great-granddaughter of Noel Servulus Oswald (NSO) Mendis, a Sri Lankan entrepreneur who acquired the British plantation company Mackwoods in 1956. The Mackwoods conglomerate now encompasses healthcare, energy, IT, and tourism, and remains within the family. Ms. Samaratunga's LinkedIn profile indicates she is a director at Mackwoods.
Mr. Baier has initiated High Court proceedings in London to secure the return of his sons. His lawyers have voiced concerns that the boys may not be attending school or nursery and are not receiving adequate medical care. A Colorado judge authorized American law enforcement in April to take custody of the children, citing a credible risk of imminent danger and that Ms. Samaratunga had engaged in activities indicating a planned abduction.
The High Court in London has issued orders attempting to trace Ms. Samaratunga, including requests to financial institutions and the NHS, but her whereabouts remain unknown. The court has permitted the publication of the family's names and images to aid in the search for the children.
Ms. Samaratunga, who previously studied law and management and worked in recruitment, co-founded Baier Associates, a London-based executive search firm, in 2020. The company was acquired by Jensen Partners last October. Amy Rowe, a partner at Hunters Law LLP representing Mr. Baier, emphasized the deeply harmful impact of abduction on young, vulnerable children and the urgency of their safe return.