An extraordinary and unprecedented story has unfolded in East London, centering on three siblings who were abandoned over an eight-year period, with the youngest, Elsa, now set to be adopted. The three children, identified as Harry, Roman, and Elsa, were discovered in the same area of East London in 2017, 2019, and 2024 respectively. Despite extensive police investigations and a fervent public appeal, their biological parents have never been found, leading Scotland Yard to declare their inquiries "exhausted" while still urging anyone with information to come forward.

Elsa, the most recent discovery, was found by a dog walker in a shopping bag in Newham on January 18, 2024. Believed to be only about an hour old, she was wrapped in a towel. Hospital staff named her Elsa, drawing inspiration from the character in the film Frozen, due to the cold conditions of her discovery. Her older siblings, Harry and Roman (not their real names), had already been adopted prior to her discovery. Harry was found first in September 2017, wrapped in a white blanket in Plaistow. Roman was discovered in similar circumstances, wrapped in a white towel in a shopping bag, in a play area in Newham in late January 2019, a period marked by freezing temperatures and snow gripping the city.

At the East London Family Court, Judge Carol Atkinson delivered a ruling that Elsa should remain with her current foster carers, thereby "paving the way" for them to apply for her adoption. Judge Atkinson underscored the truly extraordinary nature of Elsa’s narrative, noting that only eight children were officially registered as abandoned in England and Wales between 2008 and 2018. Describing Elsa as "a beautiful little girl, a raucous bundle of excitement and laughter," the judge added that she "lights up the space around her" and is "happy and settled in her new family." The judgment emphasized that Elsa's "best chance in life comes with a permanent placement in an alternative family" and highlighted the unique bond shared by the siblings: "No one that they will meet in life is likely to understand what it is like to be a foundling, but they each know and understand." The media was granted permission to report the familial link between the siblings in June 2024, following an application by the Press Association and the BBC.

The Metropolitan Police conducted an exhaustive investigation into the abandonment of the children. This included establishing a full DNA profile of the parents, reviewing hundreds of hours of CCTV footage, and offering a significant £20,000 reward for three months last year. Their search efforts narrowed down to approximately 400 homes from which investigators believed the person who abandoned the children could have travelled, though this specific line of inquiry ultimately proved unsuccessful. Detective Inspector Jamie Humm, the senior investigating officer, described the case as "wholly unprecedented," suggesting that the person responsible "did not want to be found." He also expressed a belief that the mother "is vulnerable, is in danger, and is in a position where they feel that they are unable to come forward for whatever reason."

Further insights from the police revealed the strategic nature of the abandonment locations. Detective Inspector Humm argued that areas like the Greenway footpath in Newham, built over a sewage pipe, were likely chosen as "optimum location[s] of making sure the babies were found relatively promptly whilst also giving the mum the most opportunity for a covert entrance and exit." These locations lacked CCTV, dash cam footage, or doorbell cameras, making it incredibly difficult to trace the individual responsible, effectively making them "a ghost." Detective Superintendent Lewis Basford reiterated the unique challenges, calling it "one of the most unique investigations we have worked on," involving complex familial DNA work and extensive public engagement. Despite these efforts, the biological parents remain unidentified, and the Met Police concede their enquiries are "exhausted." However, they "cannot discount" the possibility of a fourth child being discovered in the future and continue to urge the public for any information.

Judge Atkinson acknowledged that the manner of Elsa's abandonment caused her "significant physical harm," commending the police for their "tenacious" and "tireless" efforts. Looking ahead, Kate Claxton, representing Newham council, confirmed in written submissions that provisions would be made for ongoing contact between the siblings as they grow up, including regular play dates and letters, fostering their unique shared understanding as foundlings.