A newborn baby found in a shopping bag in London on a cold winter night is the third child abandoned by the same parents, according to DNA testing.
Named Baby Elsa by officials, the infant was discovered by a dog walker in the Newham borough on January 18, the London Metropolitan Police reported on Tuesday.
DNA tests revealed that Baby Elsa is a full sibling to two other babies who were abandoned nearby. One was found in 2017 and the other in 2019.
Authorities carried out an extensive investigation, which included reviewing hours of CCTV footage and speaking to the media to raise public awareness.
Police Seek Woman Seen Near Scene
Police are asking for the public’s help to identify a woman seen shortly before Baby Elsa was found. The woman, believed to have crucial information about Elsa’s background, was wearing a large dark coat with a light-colored scarf or hood and had a rucksack.
“We have worked around the clock in all three cases to identify the parents, but so far without success,” stated Newham Detective Inspector Jamie Humm.
Previous Abandonments
The first child, Baby Harry, was found in a park in Newham on the morning of September 17, 2017. The second child, Baby Roman, was discovered at a children’s play park in East London on the night of January 31, 2019. All three siblings are now in care, police said.
Despite extensive investigations, including surveillance footage reviews, witness appeals, and door-to-door searches, the parents of the children have not been identified.
“We are sensitive to the fact that these children are now being cared for, and their welfare and privacy are paramount,” Humm added.
