A mum, newborn baby and partner are still missing more than six weeks later.
Constance Marten, Mark Gordon and their newborn baby went missing after the car they were travelling in was found on fire on the hard-shoulder of the M61 on Thursday, January 5. Police believe Constance gave birth either in or near the car only a day or two earlier.
Neither the baby nor Constance have received any medical attention. It is unknown if the baby was full-term or has any health issues, which is why officers said they "remain committed to finding the family."
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After leaving the car on the motorway, it is believed Constance, Mark and their baby travelled to Liverpool before moving onto to other parts of the country. The last confirmed sighting of them was at about 6.15am on Sunday, January 8, when they walked along Cantercrow Hill, in Newhaven, into the fields beyond.
However, given the time that has passed they could have moved on some considerable distance since then, police said. Police have also issued a timeline of sightings, which can be found below, and CCTV of Constance and Mark in various places.
Timeline:
- The investigation started when officers were called to a car on fire on the hard-shoulder of the M61, near junction four (Farnworth, Bolton) at 6.33PM on Thursday, January 5. The occupants were not at the scene. It is believed most of their belongings were destroyed in the car fire.
- Enquiries revealed that Constance and Mark were the occupants of the car and that Constance had very recently given birth, possibly one or two days before, and had not been assessed by medical professionals.
- A missing person’s investigation was launched by Greater Manchester Police, who established that the family left the vehicle and the motorway safely – walking to the Anchor Lane bridge which links the Highfield and Little Hulton areas.
- Officers believe they then travelled to Liverpool and then onwards to Harwich via a taxi at about 3.30am on Friday, January 6.
- Mark, Constance and a baby were seen by a member of the public in Harwich at about 9am on Saturday, January 7. Officers also received a number of confirmed sightings of the family in Colchester on Friday, January6 and Saturday, January 7.
- Subsequently, the investigation was handed over to Essex Police on Monday, January 9.
- Essex Police carried out a number of enquiries and reviewed hours of CCTV and were able to place the couple near East Ham Station between 10.30am and 12.30pm on Saturday, January 7. As this was the last confirmed sighting of the family at the time, the investigation was handed over to the Metropolitan Police Service on Thursday, January 12.
- Detectives then established that they took a taxi from East Ham, being dropped off in Whitechapel Road at 6.14pm on Saturday, January 7.
- The couple were seen leaving the taxi with an orange carrier bag and a pram. They both had their heads and faces covered and Mark was wearing white plastic bags on his shoes, which he removed a short time later.
- At 6.19pm Mark went into Argos on Whitechapel Road, E1, and bought two big bags full of items, paying in cash, including a blue two-man tent, two sleeping bags and two pillows – which sparked fears they have been camping, including at times when the temperature plummeted to sub-zero.
- They spent the next few hours walking along the Whitechapel Road area, where they tried to flag down three taxis but were refused. They then walked to the Brick Lane area.
- At about 11.46pm on Saturday, January 7 they then went to Flower and Dean Walk near Brick Lane where they dumped a number of items, including the pushchair. They then got a taxi to Haringey.
- At 1.2am on Sunday, January 8, they got in another taxi in Allison Road, Haringey, and travelled to Newhaven, where they were dropped off just outside the port at 4.56am.
- They then walked to where the A259 crosses over the B2109. They were seen sheltering from the rain, under the overpass, at about 6am.
- At around 6.15am on Sunday, January 8, they walked along Cantercrow Hill into the fields beyond. They were carrying a number of bags and their blue tent, and officers believe they have been camping in the area subsequently, although given the time that’s passed they could have moved on some considerable distance.
Detective Superintendent Lewis Basford of the Met’s East Area Command said: “My officers and I remain absolutely committed to finding Constance, Mark and their newborn baby. We’ve been working around the clock behind the scenes and we’ve viewed more than 630 hours of CCTV as part of our efforts to find them.
“Information from the public has been vital to our investigation and we have received more than 350 calls to our dedicated incident room – thank you to everyone who has made contact with us so far, we are so grateful to you.
“While sadly these calls have not yet led to the couple and their baby being found, it could take just that one call into us with the right information, at the right time, to help us find the family and make sure they are okay.
“We are continuing to offer a reward of up to £10,000 for any information that leads to the family being found. So please, if you have information and have not yet come forward or if you think you have seen them, please contact the incident room without delay. Please only call 999 if you are with them or can see them at the time, otherwise call the incident room number.
“They could be absolutely anywhere in the UK, so we need everyone to remain vigilant. When they were last sighted on January 8 they were in the possession of a blue two-man tent, so please keep your eyes peeled, especially while you are out and about in waste ground or beauty spots, or while you’re walking the dog.
“Please be mindful that they might not always be out and about together. It could be that you just see Constance or Mark out by themselves getting supplies while the other is wherever they are staying with the baby.
“I would like to stress that we are not doing this and putting so many resources and efforts into finding the family just to be awkward or to interfere. We have a genuine concern for the health and wellbeing of the baby, and Constance and Mark, and it our duty to ensure that they are okay.”
Anyone who has information on the family’s whereabouts should call the incident room on 020 7175 0785.
Alternatively, information can be reported 100 percent anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. They never ask for personal details and they do not trace your device.
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