An aristocratic woman who disappeared with her sex offender partner and newborn baby had been "brainwashed" by a controversial Nigerian preacher, according to a childhood friend.
Constance Marten — who is from a wealthy family with ties to the royals — went missing alongside convicted rapist Mark Gordon and their baby on January 5 after the couple's car broke down and caught fire on the hard shoulder of the M56.
Police have launched a desperate search operation to locate them and are concerned about the welfare of the mother and baby — who they believe have not been seen by medics.
A family friend of Ms Marten has said that the 35-year-old spent six months living in Nigeria while working for pastor T B Joshua — the leader and founder of charismatic Christian megachurch Synagogue Church of all Nations.
She claims that Ms Marten returned from the trip "traumatised" after becoming one of his "disciples".
The friend also believes that Gordon — who spent 20 years in a US prison for raping a woman after burgling her when he was just 14 — could now have a "hold over" Ms Marten.
Pastor T B Joshua, who died aged 57 in June 2021, was known widely across Africa and Latin America and was renowned for his claims that he could heal the sick through the "supernatural power of God".
Ms Marten — whose friends call her Toots — is reported to have joined Joshua after she attended an evangelical-style course exploring Christian beliefs in London.
Her friend, who wishes to remain unnamed, told the Daily Mail: "She ended up becoming one of his disciples in Nigeria. I believe she got brainwashed while she was over there. The experience traumatised her.
"She was not the same person when she came back. She always used to be wild, but also happy, kind and buoyant. She was darker when she came back and she found things more difficult
"She never told us what really happened. T B Joshua was a God-like figure. It was scary, and I believe it changed her. It was a huge part of her life."
The friend said that after returning from Nigeria, Ms Marten had "strained relations with her family".
She added: "She was still exuberant in everything, but she found relationships very hard. It was like she came back totally f***ed. She was more rebellious. She thought she had recovered, but it was difficult for her."
The friend also explained that Ms Marten's relationship with Mr Gordon caused her family to become concerned about her and that she "dropped off the face of the earth in around 2015 or 2016."
She's also now concerned about the influence Mr Gordon may be having, adding: "He could be the love of her life and he might not be as bad as everyone is making out, but he could also be having this hold over her."
Ms Marten and Mr Gordon have been evading police ever since they abandoned their burnt-out car near junction four of the M61.
Police reportedly believe that Ms Marten could have given birth in the car just days before going missing and have said that the family have no luggage as most of their belongings were destroyed in the car fire.
After leaving the vehicle, the couple are believed to have walked to Anchor Bridge and used cash to get a taxi to Liverpool and then another to Colchester.
They were last spotted on January 7 at East Ham station in east London.
Each time they have been spotted on CCTV Ms Marten and Mr Gordon are covering their faces and have kept the baby covered.
