Newborn "Elsa," found wrapped in a towel inside a shopping bag in London on Jan. 18, 2024, has been approved to remain with the family caring for her and is set to be adopted. A dog walker discovered her less than an hour after birth and kept her warm until help arrived. An East London Family Court on Jan. 8 authorized the arrangement and the judge said Elsa is "happy and settled." DNA tests linked Elsa to two older brothers, and the siblings will continue to have contact. Police say efforts to trace the parents have been exhausted but ask the public for any information.
Newborn 'Elsa,' Found in a Shopping Bag on a Freezing Night, Cleared to Be Adopted
Getty ImagesA child who was found abandoned in a shopping bag as a baby will soon be adopted and meet her siblings
A newborn girl, identified in court documents as "Elsa," who was discovered wrapped in a towel inside a shopping bag on a freezing London night in January 2024 has been approved to remain with the family caring for her and is expected to be adopted.
Elsa was found on Jan. 18, 2024, when temperatures were about 3°C (26.6°F). A dog walker located the baby less than an hour after she was born and kept her warm until emergency services arrived, the Metropolitan Police reported.
Family Court Decision
On Jan. 8, an East London Family Court ruled that Elsa may remain with the family who has been caring for her, clearing the way for formal adoption proceedings, according to reports from the BBC and The Guardian. The court confirmed arrangements to preserve Elsa's relationship with her biological siblings.
"Elsa is a beautiful little girl, a raucous bundle of excitement and laughter," Judge Carol Atkinson said after viewing recent photographs. "I know from reports that she lights up the space around her. She is happy and settled in her new family."
Siblings And DNA Links
Police and court papers say Elsa has two older biological brothers — Henry, 8, and Roman, 6 — who were each found abandoned in similar circumstances in 2017 and 2019. DNA testing linked the three children. The adoptive parents have agreed that the siblings will continue to have contact, including play dates and the sharing of photographs as they grow up.
Police Appeal And Welfare Concerns
Authorities told the BBC that efforts to locate the children's parents have been exhausted, though police remain concerned about the biological mother's welfare. Detective Superintendent Lewis Basford said officers "will continue to review all information and intelligence made available to us" and urged anyone with relevant information to come forward.
The family court's ruling secures the current care arrangement for Elsa and paves the way for the formal adoption process while safeguarding her connection with her brothers.
Sources: Metropolitan Police, BBC, The Guardian, court records.
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