A baby girl abandoned in a shopping bag in East London has taken her first steps, marking a significant milestone just over a year after she was discovered by a dog walker in freezing temperatures. Known as Baby Elsa, the child was found less than an hour old, wrapped in a towel inside a reusable Boots shopping bag near the junction of Greenway and High Street South in East Ham on January 18 last year.
The heartwarming news was shared at a recent East London Family Court hearing, where it was revealed that Elsa is “developing well.” Judge Carol Atkinson described the progress as “astonishing,” praising the child’s resilience despite her difficult start in life. Steven Evans, representing Newham Council, reported, “The social work team told me Elsa has taken her first steps and is meeting all her developmental milestones. The social worker describes her visits as ‘the best visits ever.’”
Elsa, named after the beloved character from Disney’s Frozen by hospital staff, is the third sibling found abandoned in similar circumstances over a span of seven years. In September 2017, a baby boy referred to as Harry was discovered wrapped in a white blanket in Balaam Street, Plaistow. Two years later, in January 2019, another boy, Roman, was found in a play area off Roman Road, Newham, as freezing temperatures and snow blanketed the city. Both boys, now adopted, were found within a few miles of Elsa’s location.
The Metropolitan Police have been tirelessly investigating the case, reviewing more than 450 hours of CCTV footage in their efforts to identify the children’s parents. Detectives have been working alongside subject matter experts from the National Crime Agency as part of the ongoing probe.
Despite these extensive efforts, the identity of the children’s parents remains unknown. In hopes of uncovering crucial information, the independent charity Crimestoppers has offered a £20,000 reward for tips leading to their identification. This reward will expire on April 18.
A police spokesperson confirmed the investigation, named Operation Wolcott, remains active. “We are still appealing for anyone who may have information about Elsa, Harry, or Roman’s parents to come forward,” they stated.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the police on 101, quoting Operation Wolcott, or via ‘X’ (@MetCC). For those wishing to remain anonymous, Crimestoppers can be reached at 0800 555 111 or online at Crimestoppers-uk.org.
As Elsa takes her first steps towards a brighter future, authorities and the community remain hopeful that answers will emerge, providing closure and understanding to this heartbreaking mystery
