A £20,000 reward is being offered for information that leads to the identification of the parents of three siblings who were abandoned in London over a period of several years. The announcement comes on the first anniversary of the discovery of the youngest child, Elsa, who was found abandoned in East London.
Elsa, believed to be less than an hour old, was found by a dog walker on 18 January 2024 at the junction of Greenway and High Street South in East Ham. Wrapped in a towel and placed inside a reusable shopping bag, Elsa was kept warm by the dog walker and was unharmed. Police believe she was born following a concealed pregnancy, and that her mother may have been living in the East Ham or Plaistow area for the past six years.
Following Elsa’s discovery, police found that two other siblings—Roman and Harry—had been similarly abandoned in the same area in 2017 and 2019, respectively. Harry was found wrapped in a white blanket in Plaistow in September 2017, while Roman was discovered in a play area off Roman Road in January 2019 during a period of freezing temperatures. Both children have since been adopted.
Despite extensive investigations, including the review of over 450 hours of CCTV footage and DNA analysis, the parents remain unidentified. Detective Inspector Jamie Humm, of the Metropolitan Police’s child abuse investigation team, expressed concerns for the well-being of the mother, who is believed to have been in the East London area during the time of the incidents.
“We have serious concerns for the wellbeing of the parents, especially the mother,” said DI Humm. “We are continuing to work closely with Newham Council and appeal for the public’s help for information.”
Elsa, who was named by hospital staff in reference to the character from Frozen, is reported to be “doing very well.” Her case, along with those of her siblings, has prompted an ongoing police investigation to locate the parents. Police are encouraging those in the local community, as well as professionals in sectors like health, care, and education, to come forward if they have any relevant information.
The £20,000 reward is being offered by Crimestoppers for information passed directly to the charity. The reward will be available until 18 April 2025, and those with information are urged to contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via their website.
Anyone with information can also contact the police on 101, quoting reference Operation Wolcott.
