The baby of aristocrat Constance Marten and her partner, Mark Gordon, could have been dead for at least two weeks before it was tragically found yesterday. A local businessman has claimed that the couple were seen buying fish and chips alone as far back as February 11, the Mirror reports.
The parents were arrested in Brighton on Monday after dodging police for over seven weeks but their newborn child was not with them. After refusing to tell officers where the baby was, a huge search was launched across a vast area of the Sussex countryside.
Last night, Detective Superintendent Lewis Basford from the Metropolitan Police, who led the investigation, confirmed that the remains of a baby had been discovered in a wooded area near where Marten and Gordon were arrested. Now, CCTV from early February has emerged which shows the couple were never seen with their baby during their time in Brighton.
A source told The Sun that Marten and Gordon visited J&E Fish Bar one evening in the weeks before they were arrested but their child was not with them on the cameras. The source claimed: "They've been picked up on CCTV in the area as far back as February 11. They've been seen going into the chippy and into the Mulberrys, and would only go out at night.
"Gordon has a leg injury and was using the tree branch as a walking stick. They were never seen with the baby, or pushing a pram or anything like that."
Over 200 officers and specialist search teams searched the area surrounding Stanmer Villas in Brighton where the couple were finally caught after police received a tip from a member of the public. They were arrested on suspicion of child neglect, and later on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter. The couple remain in custody after police were granted a 36-hour extension by Brighton magistrates.
Speaking to reporters at Sussex Police headquarters on Wednesday evening, Mr Basford said: "It is my very sad duty to update this afternoon, police officers searching a wooded area close to where Constance and Mark Gordon were arrested discovered the remains of a baby. A post-mortem examination will be held in due course.
"A crime scene is in place and work at the location is expected to continue for some time. This is an outcome that myself and that many officers who have been part of this search had hoped would not happen.
"I recognise the impact this news will have on many people who have been following this story closely and can assure them that we will do everything we possibly can to establish what has happened."
Marten, 35, who comes from an aristocratic family with royal connections disappeared with her rapist boyfriend Gordon, 48 after their car was found abandoned and in flames at the edge of the M61 on January 5. From there they travelled around the country using taxis and avoided police by paying for everything in cash.
They also covered their faces while on CCTV and moved locations during the night to avoid being seen. They had their new born baby with them who had not received medical treatment since its birth in January but when the pair were arrested, the child was nowhere to be seen.
The Sun reported that they visited a food bank in Brighton last Wednesday but did not ask for baby supplies, which were readily available, and did not have the infant with them. They also did not buy any baby supplies from a convenience store shortly before they were arrested.
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