Missing aristocrat’s been living in a tent with her new baby
A MISSING aristocrat is believed to have been sleeping in a tent with her rapist partner and their newborn in subzero temperatures, police said yesterday.
Constance marten, 35, and mark Gordon, 48, were last seen on January 7 buying camping gear from an argos store in east london.
since then the capital has experienced some of the coldest nights in a decade, with temperatures plunging to as low as minus 8.4C (17F). Police believe ms marten, who hails from a wealthy family with links to the royals, may be trying to ‘blend in with homeless communities’.
Fears were growing yesterday for the health of their child who was just a day or two old when the family’s car developed a fault and burst into flames on the m61 near Bolton on January 5. The pair have been trying to evade authorities concerned for the welfare of their infant, who has not received any medical attention and may have been born in the car.
The last known CCTV sighting was in Whitechapel at 6.19pm on January 7 – when they bought gear including a blue two-man tent, pillows and two sleeping bags. They walked around the Brick lane area for more than three hours, trying to flag down black cab drivers who refused to take them.
ms marten was last seen pushing her child in a new buggy at 10pm that night.
in an apparent bid to avoid detection, Gordon was wearing a hood and mask, with protective white plastic bags on his shoes. Police believe ms marten, whose father was a page to Queen elizabeth, has withdrawn a large amount of cash from her multi-million pound trust fund to pay for travel and accommodation.
The couple have travelled by taxi to liverpool, harwich in essex, Colchester and then east london, wearing hats, snoods and scarves to hide their identity.
Detective superintendent lewis Basford, who is leading the investigation, said: ‘We are extremely concerned that a newborn baby – less than a week old at the time on January 7 – has been exposed to sub-freezing cold temperatures if mark and Constance have been camping out.
‘no child, especially a tiny, newborn baby, should be forced to endure such dangerous, potentially life-threatening conditions. This is why it is absolutely vital anyone with information about their whereabouts contacts us as a matter of urgency – whether it is with a recent or older sighting. every piece of information is crucial to enabling us to find the baby and ensure it is OK.
‘it could be that they are trying to blend in with homeless communities, either here in london or further afield, or they could be camping in more rural or wooded areas. They could be absolutely anywhere in the country. Please keep your eyes peeled.’
ms marten’s father napier has appealed for her safe return.
The former drama student cut all ties with family and friends after meeting american-raised Gordon, who committed two armed raids at the age of 14, raping a woman at knifepoint and battering a man with a shovel in 1989.
since 2016 the couple have led an isolated life using airbnbs after ms marten discovered she was pregnant.
‘Sub-freezing temperatures’