Mystery surrounds the disappearance of an aristocrat who has been missing for 12 days with her sex offender partner and their newborn baby.
Constance Marten, Mark Gordon and their child have no luggage with them after most of their belongings were destroyed in a car fire, and are using cash to pay for taxis and places to stay.
Ms Marten, known by friends as ‘Toots’, comes from a wealthy aristocratic family, while Mr Gordon is a convicted sex offender who served 20 years in a US jail for rape and battery.
The drama graduate last posted on her Instagram in 2016 – the same year that she is believed to have met her partner. She is understood to have cut ties with her relatives and friends around the same time.
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She has continued sharing images to her Facebook profile in the years since, with many friends leaving comments urging her to reply to their messages and saying: “I haven’t heard from you in ages.”
Ms Marten’s family are now desperate for their beloved daughter and grandchild to turn themselves in to the police, including her dad who issued an emotional appeal today to tell her: “You are much, much loved whatever the circumstances.”
Police believe they could be anywhere in the UK and are appealing to the public to come forward with any information that may help find them.
Investigators say the couple appear to know how to evade authorities – making their investigation harder.
Here’s everything we know about the search so far.
Missing mum related to wealthy landowners with royal links
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Ms Marten, now 35, grew up in Crichel House, a Dorset estate, as part of a prominent family with links to the royals.
Her grandmother was reportedly a playmate of Princess Margaret, while her father Napier Marten was a page to Queen Elizabeth.
She attended a boarding school for girls in Wiltshire, going on to graduate with a 2:1 in Arabic and Middle Eastern studies from Leeds University, according to the Sunday Times.
While a student there, she appeared on Tatler’s ‘Babe of the Month’ page where she discussed plans for her future, including wanting to get a tortoise tattooed on her foot.
She later studied an NCTJ qualification in journalism, then took up an acting course at a drama school in Essex.
Her family reportedly put their Dorset estate on the market in 2010 for £100million before it was sold to an American buyer.
Missing dad is sex offender who spent 20 years in prison
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Mr Gordon, 48, is a registered sex offender who spent 20 years in an American prison for rape and battery.
He was sent to prison in 1990 for raping a woman in her early 20s after burgling her home in Florida when he was 14.
After serving his lengthy sentence he was deported to the UK in 2010 and placed on the Sex Offenders Register.
Constance’s dad confirmed to The Independent that he had known about Gordon’s criminal conviction for some time.
He said that it had caused “great concern” within his family.
Couple led isolated life after meeting in 2016
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Constance Marten/Facebook)
The couple are understood to have lived an isolated life since meeting in 2016, with then-drama student Ms Marten cutting off ties with family and friends.
She used to frequently share pictures of her travels to her social media pages, and stopped posting on her Instagram in 2016.
Her last public Facebook post was made in February 2020, shortly before the first coronavirus lockdown.
One of her friends commented: “I miss you so much!! Reply my messages because it’s been ages I haven’t heard from you.”
Another wrote: “How are you my love?”, while a third said: “I haven’t heard from you in ages.”
Last September, Ms Marten and Mr Gordon began moving around the country, renting Airbnbs for brief periods.
Burning car abandoned before using fake name for hotel
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On January 5, Ms Marten and Mr Gordon were on the M61 when their car broke down and caught fire near junction four at Farnworth, Bolton.
The pair walked along the hard shoulder of the M61 motorway, with Constance carrying their baby in her arms.
They then walked to Anchor Lane Bridge, where they got a taxi to Liverpool before getting another to Harwich, Essex.
Police believe they may have used false names to check into a B&B.
Mr Gordon was described as wearing dark clothing, while Ms Marten, who has a southern accent, was wearing a burgundy coat.
The baby was wrapped in cloth.
Mum gave birth ‘very recently’ with no medical attention
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It is thought that neither Constance nor her baby have been examined by medical professionals since she gave birth.
Greater Manchester Police has said it is “extremely concerned” for their welfare, adding: “[Officers] are asking for Constance and any members of the public who have any information to reach out to ensure they are safe and well.”
GMP’s Head of Public Protection, Chief Superintendent Michaela Kerr, previously issued a direct plea to Constance.
She said: “As a mum, I would like to make a direct appeal to Constance.
“Constance, I know this is an exceptionally hard time for you and you are likely feeling scared but I promise that our number one priority is the same as yours – to keep your beautiful new born safe.
“As you know, it’s really important that both you and your baby are assessed by medical professionals as soon as possible so please make contact with emergency services or make your way to your nearest hospital, wherever that may be.”
Family sighted in Colchester and East London
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Met Police)
The couple’s last known sighting was on January 7 at East Ham station in Newham, east London, between 11.45am and 12:30pm.
The Met said that detectives from Essex Police established the trio took a taxi from Harwich to East Ham station that day.
They are believed to have left their vehicle at Bolton, travelled to Liverpool and then to Harwich, and there were also confirmed sightings of them in Colchester – over 200 miles from the scene of the breakdown.
While near Harwich port, Essex, Constance was seen appearing to carry the child under a bright red shawl.
Each time Ms Marten and Mr Gordon are spotted on CCTV, they are covering their faces or looking away, and have kept the baby covered up.
Couple are using cash for hotels and taxis to stay off-grid
The couple has a substantial amount of cash, allowing them to live off-grid, police have said.
Investigators said it is unusual for hotels to accept cash payments and appealed to staff at hotels or hostels where they may stay to come forward.
Some 200 officers are working on the search and have scoured through more than 200 hours of CCTV footage since the pair were last seen on January 7, but the couple appear to know how to evade authorities.
Detective Superintendent Lewis Basford said: “This is a complex investigation with officers from across the Met continuing to work around the clock to find Constance, Mark and their baby.
“There is nothing to suggest that any of them have come to any sort of intentional harm – we just need to ensure they are okay, especially the baby, and do not require any medical assistance for any underlying issues.
“The last confirmed sighting of them was more than a week ago in East Ham – they could now be anywhere in the UK, which is why it is vital that members of the public continue to contact us with any suspected sightings.”