Police have urged a couple who have gone missing with their newborn to “think of your baby’s health” in an urgent appeal to help find them.
Detectives from the Metropolitan Police have taken over the investigation into the whereabouts of Constance Marten, Mark Gordon and their newborn child, and are making “urgent enquiries” to track them down.
The mother and baby belong to an aristocratic household that once possessed a sprawling country estate with links to the royal family, as revealed byThe Independent earlier this week.
Ms Marten, 35, is the granddaughter of Mary Anna Marten, a British Museum trustee whose godmother was the late Queen Mother, and who used to own the Crichel estate in Dorset. Ms Marten is understood to be directly descended from the 3rd and last Baron Allington.
Police said she is believed to have “very recently” given birth, adding that “neither she nor the baby have been assessed by medical professionals”.
The couple was initially travelling in a vehicle that was found broken down near junction four – Farnworth, Bolton – of the M61 on 5 January, at which point they left the road safely and walked towards Anchor Lane bridge, the force said.
A missing persons investigation was launched by Greater Manchester Police after the vehicle was found but no occupants were present.
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.
Detective Superintendent Lewis Basford made a direct plea to the couple to make contact with officers and said there are a number of officers “carrying out urgent enquiries to find Constance, Mark and their baby”.
You wouldn’t be able to forgive yourself if they became poorly. All we want to do is help you and your baby— Detective Superintendent Lewis Basford
He said: “Constance and Mark, I appeal directly to you, please think of your baby’s health and wellbeing, and get in touch with us so we can ensure your child is medically well and has no underlying issues.
“Please do this for your child. You wouldn’t be able to forgive yourself if they became poorly. All we want to do is help you and your baby.”
He also appealed to members of the public who might have seen the trio to contact police.
He said: “This is a fast-moving investigation and we have a number of officers from across the Met carrying out urgent enquiries to find Constance, Mark and their baby.
“The help from members of the public has been invaluable over the past week and I would appeal to anyone who believes they have seen Constance, Mark or their newborn baby – either in London or further afield – to contact us without delay. Together we can ensure they and their newborn baby are safe and well.”
Anyone with information can call 020 7175 0785 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
