Constance Marten (38), from an aristocratic background, and her partner Mark Gordon (51), have been found guilty of gross‑negligence manslaughter following the death of their infant daughter, Victoria, in the winter of 2023. The couple’s decision to disappear with the newborn, driven by fear of social services taking her into care, ultimately led to her preventable death.
The Disappearance and Manhunt
After secretly giving birth in late December 2022, the couple abandoned their car on the M61 near Bolton. Inside, police discovered a placenta, triggering a nationwide manhunt lasting nearly eight weeks to locate them—and the baby. The Sun+9Wikipedia+9The Independent+9
The pair travelled widely by taxi, relying on cash and burner phones to evade detection. They later set up a thin tent in the South Downs and survived in hazardous freezing conditions—despite stark warnings from social services. Sky News+5The Independent+5The Independent+5
Discovery and Cause of Death
Police finally arrested Marten and Gordon on 27 February 2023 in Brighton. Two days later, Victoria’s body was discovered in a rubbish-filled shopping bag inside a disused allotment shed. Investigators believe she died either from hypothermia—having been left in damp, frigid conditions—or from accidental suffocation while co‑sleeping. The Independent+12Wikipedia+12The Independent+12
Court Case Developments
This guilty verdict followed a retrial in July 2025 after an earlier trial in 2024 failed to reach a decision on the manslaughter charge. Previously, the couple had already been convicted on charges including concealing Victoria’s birth, perverting the course of justice, and child cruelty. AP News+5The Independent+5The Daily Beast+5
Throughout the proceedings, Marten and Gordon blamed each other and offered differing accounts—Marten claiming she accidentally smothered her daughter while asleep, Gordon largely remained silent on the matter. The Daily Beast
Court’s Verdict
The jury determined that the couple’s reckless choice to live off‑grid in freezing weather without adequate shelter, clothing, food, or medical attention directly caused baby Victoria’s death. Crown prosecutors described their behaviour as “utterly selfish”. The Daily Beast+6Crown Prosecution Service+6The Independent+6
Aftermath and Next Steps
Marten and Gordon will be sentenced on 15 September 2025. Judges are expected to weigh their lengthy legal history, the severity of neglect, and their ongoing lack of remorse. The Independent+1The Guardian+1
Summary:
Constance Marten and Mark Gordon’s effort to evade child protection by living off-grid tragically led to their baby’s death. They concealed her birth, ignored warnings, and endured freezing elements in inadequate shelter. Their convictions mark the conclusion of a complex legal saga that began with a nationwide manhunt and ends with accountability for a devastating loss.