After the couple formed a relationship, police in Britain prioritized locating a newborn. Constance Marten and Mark Gordon were traced in Brighton on a Monday night, and both remained in custody as officers pursued answers. The pair had vanished in January, and the infant was said to be just days old at that time.
The case began with the discovery of a burned car. It had been left near an exit on the M61 by Bolton on January 5, and a rapid response followed as detectives linked the vehicle to the couple.
Witnesses reported that the occupants had departed the scene, and investigators were alerted to reports that Marten had given birth recently without medical care. It is believed that several personal items were destroyed in the fire.
Marten and Gordon, both with criminal histories, are currently in police custody while investigators question them. The Metropolitan Police enlisted help from local residents to search for clues about the baby’s location, including outbuildings and restrooms as part of a broader sweep of nearby areas in pursuit of the child.
Dozens of officers checked areas such as Hollingbury golf course and Roedale Valley during a wide-ranging search through Sussex Downs. A helicopter, drones and search dogs were employed as part of the ongoing operation.
Appeal for public assistance and safeguarding the newborn
The investigation drew further attention after cameras captured the couple on Whitechapel Road in London on a January night, raising questions about their movements across the city. Detected by many security cameras, the pair appeared to be concealing their faces during travel in a taxi as they moved through the country.
Detective Inspector Lewis Basford issued a direct appeal to residents, stressing that the priority is now the safety and well-being of the infant. Concerns center on the baby’s exposure to cold temperatures while the couple has been living outdoors for an extended period. The journey began after the pair left their home in Eltham, southeast London, earlier in the year while Marten’s pregnancy progressed.
In security footage, the couple can be seen attempting to hide their faces as they move from place to place in a taxi across the country, a sign of potential attempts to stay out of sight. The pair had left home in September, with Marten showing signs of pregnancy and adopting a headscarf and a nomadic lifestyle. They were believed to carry substantial cash while sleeping in tents during their travels.
Urgent concern for the newborn’s safety
Law enforcement officials have expressed serious worry about the baby’s welfare, noting there is no indication that medical professionals have attended to the newborn since birth. The case has drawn attention to the wellbeing of an infant who may have faced exposure to harsh conditions in recent weeks.
Constance Marten, 35, is described as coming from a privileged background and having attended a private school while living in a grand residence in Dorset. Authorities say she became estranged from her family after meeting Gordon during her studies in theater in 2016. Friends know her by the nickname Toots, a reference tied to a Dorset mansion associated with her. A 1996 film scene featuring a leading role by a figure associated with that residence has been mentioned in relation to her past.
Mark Gordon, aged 48, is registered as a sex offender. He previously faced a lengthy prison term in the United States, serving time for a rape committed when he was younger, and he was later deported to the United Kingdom in 2010 after an extended prison sentence. The ongoing investigation continues to examine all aspects of their movements, the circumstances surrounding the birth, and the overall safety of the newborn as officers work to locate the child.