Missing aristocrat Constance Marten may have given birth in the back of a car found burnt out in Greater Manchester, the Manchester Evening News understands.
The mum - who is from a wealthy land-owning family with links to the Royal Family - disappeared with her newborn baby boy and sex offender partner Mark Gordon on January 5. The pair abandoned their burning car on the hard shoulder after it broke down near junction 4 of the M61, at Farnworth in Bolton.
M.E.N. sources connected to the investigation say placenta was found in the back seat of the couple's charred vehicle by fire crews. Police reportedly believe the baby was born in the car one or two days before the family went missing.
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Concerns are growing as neither Constance, 35, nor the baby have seen a doctor. The family have no luggage as most of their belongings were destroyed in the fire, but Constance is believed to have access to substantial resources.
The revelation of the baby's birth comes after Gordon, 48, was exposed as being a convicted sex offender. His conviction relates to a Florida attack on a woman in her early 20s when he was 14.
He served 20 years in a US jail for rape and battery. Constance's estranged father Napier Martin - who is a former page to the late Queen - has appealed through The Independent for his daughter to let police know where she is 'as soon as possible'.
After leaving the vehicle, which they had bought six days earlier, the pair are believed to have walked to Anchor Bridge, which links Little Hulton and Highfield. They used cash to travel by taxi first to Liverpool and then Colchester.
The last sighting of them was in London and Scotland Yard have now taken over the search for them.Constance was last sighted 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. While near Harwich port, Essex, Constance was seen appearing to carry the child under a bright red shawl.
Each time Ms Marten and Mr Gordon are spotted on CCTV, they are covering their faces or looking away, and have kept their baby covered up. Investigators say the couple appear to know how to evade authorities - making the search for them harder.
Police believe they could be anywhere in the UK and are appealing to the public to come forward with any information that may help find them. Detective Superintendent Lewis Basford said: "This is a complex investigation with officers from across the Met continuing to work around the clock to find Constance, Mark and their baby.
"There is nothing to suggest that any of them have come to any sort of intentional harm - we just need to ensure they are okay, especially the baby, and do not require any medical assistance for any underlying issues. The last confirmed sighting of them was more than a week ago in East Ham - they could now be anywhere in the UK, which is why it is vital that members of the public continue to contact us with any suspected sightings.
"The assistance you've provided so far has been invaluable. Please don't forget about Constance, Mark and the baby - if you see them or think you have seen them then please contact us as a matter of urgency."
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