Baby Elsa: Police still searching for abandoned infant’s mother

Baby Elsa was found abandoned in January 2024

This week, police confirmed that they are still searching for the infant's mother but they're also looking for the parents of two other babies who were abandoned in 2017 and 2019 respectively.

Speaking about the investigations, officers said they are still trying to identify the parents.

"The investigation to identify the parents of the three babies found abandoned in Newham continues.

"In the most recent case of Baby Elsa, we’ve gathered over 450 hours of CCTV, followed leads from relevant footage and spoken to members of the public alongside many numerous partner agencies and charities.

"The most recent update prompted a small number of calls to police but unfortunately these did not generate any significant new leads. We remain keen to hear from anyone who has information that could help us get some answers for baby Elsa.

"DNA work is also ongoing. We hope this might help understand their potential ancestry.

"This is a hugely complex and time-consuming piece of work that will take time to complete.

"We have also had to be mindful of the sensitivities that exist now all of the children are being cared for. Their welfare, including their privacy, is paramount.

"Colleagues at Newham Council continue to ensure all of their welfare," they concluded.

What happened to Baby Elsa?

Baby Elsa was found by a member of the public who was out walking their dog on the night of January 18th.

The infant was discovered in a shopping bag at the junction of Greenway and High Street South in East London.

The stranger who found her quickly wrapped her up to keep her warm until the ambulance arrived. There were sub-zero temperatures on the night baby Elsa was found.

Her umbilical cord was still attached when she was found. After she was rushed to hospital, doctors confirmed the infant was born just an hour before she was found.

Despite being left in subzero temperatures, baby Elsa was not harmed. Doctors confirmed she did not suffer any injuries and was in good health when she arrived at the hospital.

Policed named her Baby Elsa because she was found in the winter.

They've urged her mum to come forward and stressed that they only want to help her and express concerns for her welfare.

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