Constance Martens: The father of a fugitive aristocrat makes an emotional plea to his missing daughter
For free real-time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox, sign up for our breaking news emails
Sign up for our free breaking news emails
Mark Gordon’s mother Sylvia said she was “very concerned” for the safety of her son and his aristocratic partner Constance Marten.
“I love my son. He’s a good boy, so I don’t know what it’s about,” she said.
Police said yesterday that Mr Gordon and Ms Marten could be anywhere in the UK and are believed to know how to evade the authorities.
Napier Martin, Constance’s father, had earlier urged his daughter to get herself and the child to safety as soon as possible – after police raised concerns that neither had seen a doctor soon after the child was born.
“I want you to know that you are very much loved, no matter the circumstances,” he told The Independent. “We are deeply concerned about your well-being and the well-being of your baby.”
It has recently emerged that Mr Gordon is a convicted rapist who served 20 years in prison. He disappeared with Mrs Marten and their newborn baby on January 5 after leaving their broken-down vehicle on the M61 near Bolton.
Key points
Show latest update 1674153921
Constance Marten: The map shows sightings of a missing couple
The Independent has drawn up a map of the locations where Constance Marten and Mark Gordon have been seen since police reported them missing.
The last known sighting of the pair was on January 7 in East Ham, London, two days after they abandoned their burnt-out car on the side of the M61 near Bolton, more than 200 miles away.
Constance Marten and Mark Gordon have traveled over 200 miles across England and could be anywhere in the UK
(The Independent)
Liam James January 19, 2023 6:45 pm
1674151221
Constance Marten’s father addresses his missing daughter
“I am asking you to find a way to turn yourself and your young child over to the police as soon as possible so that you and he or she can be protected. Only then can a process of healing and recovery begin, no matter how long it takes, no matter how difficult it is,” said Napier Martin about his estranged daughter Constance and her newborn child.
Constance Marten: The father of a fugitive aristocrat makes an emotional plea to his missing daughter
Liam James January 19, 2023 6:00 p.m
1674149421
In Depth: The Runaway Heiress and the Rift at the Heart of British Democracy
Tom Ow investigates the high-rise sensational disappearance: they abandoned their burning car on the hard border of the M61 and escaped – an aristocrat, a sex offender and their baby, born just a day or two before. From the inferno near Bolton, which is believed to have destroyed all their belongings, they traveled first to Liverpool, then to Harwich in Essex, to Colchester and to East Ham station in east London over two days.
This blurry CCTV footage from January 7 is the last confirmed sighting of Constance Marten, 35, the heiress’s face wrapped in a red scarf, her baby wrapped in her coat. Next to her is convicted rapist Mark Gordon, 48, his head covered and leaning away from the camera. Police, concerned for the baby’s health, are looking for the couple, but they are believed to have a large amount of cash with them, allowing them to stay off the grid.
So how did Marten, whose father was a page to Elizabeth II, go from the page of society bible Tatler to running with a man who, after robbing and raping a woman as a teenager, spent 20 years in a Florida prison before being deported to UK?
Liam James January 19, 2023 5:30 pm
1674145851
ICYMI: “I’m very concerned,” says Gordon’s mom
Mark Gordon’s mother Sylvia said she was “very concerned” for the safety of her son and his partner.
She told the Daily Mail: “I am very concerned. I love my son. He’s a good boy, so I don’t know what it’s all about.
“I worry about all of them. I’m thinking, I wonder if someone kidnapped them?’
Matt Matters January 19, 2023 4:30 pm
1674141351
ICYMI: Key points
Here are the highlights of the case of Constance Marten and her partner Mark Gordon
- At 6.33pm on Thursday, January 5, officers were called to a car on fire on the hard boundary of the M61, near junction 4 (Farnworth, Bolton). However, the residents were not there.
- Most of their belongings are believed to have been destroyed in the car fire.
- Investigations revealed that Constance and Mark were the passengers in the car and that Constance had very recently given birth, possibly a day or two prior, and had not been evaluated by medical professionals.
- A missing persons investigation was launched by Greater Manchester Police, who found the family had left the vehicle and the motorway safely – walking to Anchor Lane Bridge, which links the Highfield and Little Hulton areas.
- Officers believe they then traveled to Liverpool and then Harwich by taxi at around 03.30am on Friday 6 January.
- Mark, Constance and a baby were seen by a person in Harwich at around 9am on Saturday 7 January. Officers also received a number of confirmed sightings of the family in Colchester on Friday 6 January and Saturday 7 January.
- The investigation was subsequently handed over to Essex Police on Monday 9 January.
- Essex Police carried out a number of inquiries and reviewed hours of CCTV and were able to place the pair near East Ham station between 10.30am and 12.30pm on Saturday 7 January.
Matt Matters January 19, 2023 3:15 pm
1674137751
Who is Napier Martin? Father who made emotional appeal for missing daughter with baby
The aristocratic Marten family has dominated the headlines in recent weeks after 35-year-old Constance Marten, her newborn baby and convicted rapist partner became the subject of a ‘high risk’ missing person investigation.
Napier Martin urged his daughter Constance to get herself and the child to safety as soon as possible.
My colleague Thomas Kingsley reports:
Matt Matters January 19, 2023 2:15 pm
1674135969
“I’m very concerned”
Mark Gordon’s mother Sylvia said she was “very concerned” for the safety of her son and his partner.
She told the Daily Mail: “I am very concerned. I love my son. He’s a good boy, so I don’t know what it’s all about.
“I worry about all of them. I’m thinking, I wonder if someone kidnapped them?’
Matt Matters January 19, 2023 1:46 pm
1674129360
What did the aristocrat’s father say?
The aristocrat, Constance Marten’s father, made an emotional appeal telling her to hand herself in to the police.
In the audio, shared exclusively with The Independent, Napier-Martin said: “Dear Constance, although we remain estranged at the moment, I am standing by, as I always have and as the family has always done, to do everything necessary for your safe return for us.
“I want you to know that you are very much loved no matter what the circumstances. We are deeply concerned about your well-being and the well-being of your baby.”
“I am imploring you to find a way to turn yourself and your young child over to the police as soon as possible so that you and he or she are protected. 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 whatever is necessary for your well-being. And I also want you to know that you are very much loved no matter the circumstances.
“We are deeply concerned about your well-being and the well-being of your baby.”
Matt Matters January 19, 2023 11:56 am
1674126581
When did the couple meet?
Ms Marten is said to have met her partner in 2016 and they are believed to have lived a secluded life ever since.
After meeting Gordon, Ms. Marten cut off contact with her family and friends.
Last September, they began moving around the country, renting AirBnBs for short periods.
They have been missing for about two weeks.
Matt Matters January 19, 2023 11:09 am
1674124910
“They could be anywhere in the UK”
Commenting further on the case, Detective Superintendent Basford described the investigation as “complex”, adding that the pair could be “anywhere in the UK”.
He 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’s nothing to suggest any of them have done any deliberate harm – we just need to make sure they’re OK, especially the baby, and don’t need medical attention for any underlying problems.”
“The last confirmed sighting of them was over a week ago in East Ham – they could now be anywhere in the UK, so it is vital that members of the public continue to contact us with any suspected sightings.
The help you have provided so far has been invaluable. Please remember Constance, Mark and the baby – if you see them or think you have, please contact us urgently.’
Matt Matters January 19, 2023 10:41 am
Add Comment