The investigation into the parents of three infants abandoned in plastic bags may soon come to a halt. Detectives have been working tirelessly for years to locate the mother of the siblings, who were identified through DNA tests. With the last baby discovery almost two years ago, authorities are contemplating closing the case.
This unique inquiry has led officers on a comprehensive search across the UK and internationally, utilizing DNA analysis to reach out to potential family members. The babies were found separately in plastic bags in harsh weather conditions over several years.
The first baby, named Harry, was discovered in 2017 wrapped in a white blanket in Plaistow, East London. Two years later, another baby named Roman, identified as Harry’s sibling, was found in the same vicinity. In 2024, a third baby, named Elsa, was found in a Boots shopping bag in freezing temperatures by a dog walker.
Despite the challenging circumstances, all three infants survived. They were abandoned near the Greenway in Newham, an area devoid of CCTV surveillance. Detective Inspector Jamie Humm from the Metropolitan Police expressed astonishment at how the babies were left undetected in a highly monitored city like London.
Collaborating with a geographical profiler from the National Crime Agency, the police narrowed down the potential mother’s location to a cluster of 400 houses. Through a meticulous process, officers requested DNA samples from residents and analyzed genetic data to identify potential relatives.
As the investigation nears its conclusion, Detective Superintendent Lewis Basford suggests that the mother may have fled abroad or is under external influence. While the authorities remain open to new leads, they believe they have exhausted all viable options in the case.