Three newborns found dumped in parks in seven years belong to the same parents

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Three newborns dumped in east London parks in the past seven years have the same parents, it has been revealed – as the Met Police continue their search.

DNA tests presented at a hearing at East London Family Court have shown that a girl found by a dog walker in Newham earlier this year is the sister of two babies, a boy and a girl, found in similar circumstances in 2017 and 2019 .

The child, named Baby Elsa by hospital staff, was less than an hour old when she was found in a shopping bag in sub-zero temperatures on January 18.

Her brother, Baby Harry, was found abandoned in a park in Plaistow in 2017, and her sister, Baby Roman, was discovered in a park in Newham in 2019.

At the family court hearing this month, Judge Carol Atkinson said the story was of “great public interest” as she varied the restrictions to allow the relationship between the children to be reported.

The Met Police have yet to identify the parents despite several public appeals for the children, who survived with the two eldest now adopted and Baby Elsa still in foster care.

Judge Atkinson said she hoped that by identifying the children’s relationship it could help police in their investigation to find the biological parents.

Baby Elsa was found wrapped in a towel in a reusable shopping bag by a dog walker at the junction of the Greenway and High Street South in East Ham.

At the time, police said the baby, who was discovered so cold it took doctors three hours to take his temperature, was likely to have been born in a hidden pregnancy.

Baby Roman was also discovered in freezing temperatures in an area of ​​parkland near Roman Road and Saxon Road in East Ham on January 30, 2019 at 10.15pm.

It was wrapped in a white towel placed in a shopping bag positioned next to a bench in a children’s play area.

Like Baby Elsa, she was also found by a dog walker, Rima Zvaliauskas, who told the BBC she was “shocked and distraught” to make the discovery.

Baby Harry was found wrapped in a white blanket in a park area off Balaam Street in Plaistow on September 17, 2017 at 8.20am.

At the time of each discovery, the MET Police launched appeals asking for information about the babies’ parents and appealing for people seen in the areas to come forward.

Speaking after Elsa was found, Chief Superintendent Simon Crick said: “We are extremely concerned for her welfare as she would have been through a traumatic ordeal and will need immediate medical care after the birth.

“Trained doctors and specialist officers are ready to support her and we urge her to get in touch by phone or go to the nearest hospital or police station. If you are the child’s mother, please know that your daughter is fine. Whatever your circumstances, please seek help.”

In her decision to lift the reporting restrictions on Monday, Judge Carol Atkinson said: “Abandonment of a child in this country is a very, very unusual occurrence and there are years when there are no abandoned children and because of that it is the story. of the abandonment of a child that is of public interest.”

She continued: “For the same reason, in our society today, of enormous interest and importance, people know that there is a mother and a father out there who felt the need to give up their children in this way, three times, and that is of considerable interest, it seems to me.

“If I restrict those rights and the reporting of that story, I think that has an impact on public awareness of these types of matters. It limits the openness of justice.”

It follows efforts to increase transparency in the family court system.

While journalists can usually attend family court proceedings, reporting restrictions limit what can be published to protect the anonymity of those involved.

Following an application, Judge Atkinson amended the Transparency Order in Elsa’s case to allow the fact that she has two siblings and other details to be reported.

Only certain other details of the three children, who are black, can be reported.

Harry and Roman – not their real names – have since been adopted.

But barrister Kate Claxton, representing Newham London Borough Council, previously told the court that the ongoing investigation meant Elsa’s birth could not be registered, meaning no final decision could be made about her care.

Another hearing in her case is expected to take place at a later date.

Detective Sergeant Laurence Dight, of the Metropolitan Police, told the court on Monday that the police investigation into the identity of the parents is ongoing, with anyone with information on the identity of the parents asked to contact the force using reference CAD 6876/18. Jan.