A Missing Heiress and Her Convict Partner, a Concealed Birth, and a Dead Newborn | The Case of Constance Marten and Mark Gordon

The disappearance of aristocrat Constance Marten and her partner Mark Gordon in January 2023 shook the nation. What began as a mystery about a missing couple and their newborn child turned into a tragic case of concealment, evasion, and the death of their baby.

The Aristocratic Life of Constance Marten

Constance Marten was born into one of England’s prominent aristocratic families, the Martens. Her father, Napier Marten, had a well-documented midlife crisis where he abandoned his family, inheritance, and estate to live in isolation in Australia. Constance’s upbringing was marked by privilege. She attended prestigious institutions such as St. Mary’s School and Leeds University, where she studied Arabic and Middle Eastern Studies.

Despite her privileged background, Constance’s life took a turn when she met Mark Gordon in 2016. Gordon had a troubled past, including a conviction for armed kidnapping and sexual assault when he was 14 years old in Florida. After serving 20 years in prison, Gordon was deported to the UK in 2010. This relationship would ultimately lead Constance to distance herself from her family and friends.

The Disappearance and Nationwide Search

In December 2022, the couple’s car was found abandoned and burning near Bolton, Greater Manchester. Investigators found evidence that Constance had recently given birth, but the couple and their baby were nowhere to be found. The authorities launched a nationwide manhunt, mobilizing over 200 officers and reviewing 223 hours of CCTV footage in their search.

The couple was last seen on January 7, 2023, at the East Ham Tube station in London, purchasing a tent. This sparked fears that they were living off-grid in freezing temperatures with their newborn baby. As the search progressed, concerns grew for the baby’s welfare, as the couple continued to evade capture for seven weeks.

A Troubled Past Revealed

During the search, details of Mark Gordon’s criminal past came to light, further intensifying concerns about the couple’s intentions and the welfare of their child. Constance’s estranged father, Napier Marten, issued a public plea for her safe return, expressing his deep concern for both her and her baby’s safety.

“Darling Constance, even though we remain estranged at the moment, I stand by, as I have always done and as the family has always done, to do whatever is necessary for your safe return to us.

I beseech you to find a way to turn yourself and your wee one in to the police as soon as possible so you and he or she can be protected. I want you to understand that you are much much loved whatever the circumstances. Only then can a process of healing and recovery begin, however long it may take, however difficult it may be. I would like you to understand that the family will do all that is needed for your wellbeing. And I also wish you to understand you are much, much loved, whatever the circumstances. We are deeply concerned for your and your baby’s welfare. The past eight years have been beyond painful for all the family as well as your friends, as they must have been for you, and to see you so vulnerable again is testing in the extreme.”

Constance’s mother also released an emotional letter, urging her daughter to come home, promising support and understanding in rebuilding her life.

“I want to help you and my grandchild,” she wrote. “You deserve the opportunity to build a new life, establish a stable family and enjoy the same freedoms that most of us have.

Constance, I will do what I can to stand alongside you and my grandchild. You are not alone in this situation. We will support you in whatever way we can.

I am ready to do what it takes for you to recover from this awful experience so you can thrive and enjoy motherhood.

I love you and miss you, Mum xx.”

Mark’s mom put out a statement as well,

“I am very concerned. I love my son. He is a good boy so I don’t know what this is all about. I am worried for all of them. I am thinking, I wonder if someone kidnapped them?”

Despite these public appeals, the couple remained on the run, moving between various locations.

The Arrest and Tragic Discovery

The couple was eventually arrested in Brighton on February 27, 2023, after members of the public recognized them from news reports. However, their baby was not with them, triggering a second, more urgent search. Tragically, on March 1, the baby’s remains were found hidden in a plastic bag inside a shed near where the couple had been arrested. The exact cause of death could not be determined, but it is believed the baby had died weeks earlier.

Court Proceedings and the Ongoing Investigation

On January 26, 2024, Constance Marten and Mark Gordon’s trial started.

“The couple are accused of concealing the birth of a child, cruelty to a person under 16, causing or allowing the death of a child, manslaughter by gross negligence and perverting the course of justice.”

Both Marten and Gordon have denied all charges. Testimonies revealed the couple’s attempts to live off-grid, with social workers warning them about the dangers of their lifestyle for their newborn.

In court, Marten expressed grief over the death of her child, maintaining that she only wanted to provide the best for her daughter.

“If that is what happened, I had to escape my family as my family are extremely oppressive and bigoted and they would not allow me to have children with my husband and they would do anything to erase that child from the family line.”

Gordon, however, opted not to testify in his defense.

The Legal Battle Continues

After weeks of deliberation, the jury was unable to reach a verdict on the more serious charges, including manslaughter, leading to a retrial scheduled for March 2025. Both Constance and Mark were found guilty of concealing the birth of a child and perverting the course of justice.

As the legal proceedings continue, this tragic case highlights the devastating consequences of secrecy, isolation, and the lengths to which individuals will go to protect their loved ones, even in the face of overwhelming odds.

The death of Constance Marten and Mark Gordon’s baby has left many questions unanswered. What drove them to live such an isolated life? Was Constance’s estrangement from her family a factor in the tragic outcome? And could the child’s death have been prevented had the couple sought help earlier? These questions, and more, will likely be explored in the upcoming retrial.

This case serves as a sobering reminder of the complexities of human relationships, the impact of mental health struggles, and the importance of seeking help before it’s too late.

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Question: Do you think this happened due to mental health issues with Constance or plain ole negligence?

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