UK Socialite Constance Marten, Partner Convicted in Baby's Manslaughter Case

Constance Marten, born into an aristocratic family with close royal connections, became widely known after going on the run with Mark Gordon, a convicted rapist who spent two decades in a US prison before being deported to the UK. The couple were convicted in 2024 of child cruelty and later found guilty of the manslaughter of their newborn daughter, Victoria, whose body was discovered in a rubbish-filled bag in a Brighton shed. Prior to their life on the run, Marten spent six months in a controversial Christian cult led by TB Joshua, which reportedly left her traumatized. Despite their privileged and troubled backgrounds, Marten and Gordon lived rough in harsh winter conditions while evading police, refusing to disclose their baby's whereabouts. Gordon's past includes a 40-year sentence in the US for a horrific rape committed as a teenager, and his American victim has publicly stated he should never have been released. The tragic case highlights issues surrounding the couple's attempts to keep their child after four other children had been taken into care, as well as systemic failures in monitoring and intervention.