Constance Marten, 38, and Mark Gordon, 51, were found guilty of gross negligence manslaughter. The ruling comes on the heels of the tragic death of their newborn daughter, Victoria. Their case has received immense media attention, yet the details of their unusual upbringing, relationship and parenting decisions have all contributed to the unfolding cautionary tale. Marten, an aristocrat with deep ties to European royalty, and Gordon, a Black man with a violent criminal background, lived a high-stakes life on the lam. Their challenging journey suddenly became sadder with the unforeseen passing of their child.
The couple drove all over the UK in a frantic attempt to out-run police for months on end. This quest eventually led to their dramatic arrest on February 27, 2023, outside Brighton, after police found them in a convenience store. Only two days after having left home, Victoria’s body was found in a carton and grocery bag in an abandoned shed. The circumstances surrounding the baby’s death have left investigators and the public grappling with questions about parental responsibility and the welfare of children in vulnerable situations.
Background of Constance Marten and Mark Gordon
In many ways, Constance Marten’s story begins well before her birth. She grew up in an incredibly wealthy, aristocratic family. She is related on one side to the British royal family, which thickens the dramatic irony in her case even further. In sharp contrast, Mark Gordon has a long and horrific criminal history full of extreme sexual violence. His crimes go back to when he was an adolescent. In 1989, he was convicted of armed sexual battery, armed kidnapping, and burglary with a deadly weapon. After 22 years behind bars, he was freed in 2010.
Though an unlikely match due to their different backgrounds, the couple made a connection and welcomed a daughter into the world. Family judges stated that their relationship with their newborn was “very good.” Identifying these patterns allowed them to demonstrate warmth and care at every opportunity. Their stormy relationship history calls into question their ability to create a safe living situation for their child.
In 2019, Gordon had gotten involved in a violent brawl on stage. On the basis of an altercation, he either shoved Marten or made him fall out an open window. This episode resulted in serious injuries for Marten, suggesting a pattern of abusive behavior that would later raise alarms about their parenting abilities.
The Journey on the Run
Shortly after Victoria was born, Marten and Gordon went on a traumatic run across multiple cities in the UK. For most of this period, they were living in tents and suffered the full force of a Michigan winter, while hiding from law enforcement. Marten reportedly had £19,000 (close to $25,000) in her bank account when police took her into custody. Even with this significant sum, she decided to continue living in unsafe conditions with her newborn.
So their choice to run says everything about how desperate they are. Each parent simply wanted to keep their child safe from adults with the power to cut in. And yet, it makes them targets for the most egregious ethical outrage—questioning their judgment and capacity as parents. Det. Insp. Dave Sinclair remarked on the tragic outcome of this situation:
“There was ample opportunity for them to have sought help, to have addressed the welfare concerns for the baby, to have come forward to the authorities and to have got that help. And potentially there may have been a different outcome.”
Court Proceedings and Sentencing
The court case for Marten and Gordon has been lengthy and complicated. In two separate trials, a total of 14 barristers acted on their behalf. It reflects just how serious the charges they were facing were. In the end, each was convicted of gross negligence manslaughter for their neglect of proper care for Victoria.
Mr Justice Mark Lucraft said the couple’s behaviour during proceedings had been ‘disgraceful’. He noted that they could have acted differently:
“rather better behaved – and they pleaded guilty to murder.”
Jaswant Narwal was a prosecutor on the case. He stressed that Marten and Gordon were unrepentant about their illegal actions. He stated:
“Marten and Gordon have shown little remorse for their actions, using different antics to frustrate and delay court proceedings.”
Samantha Yelland, another key figure involved in the case, commented on the reckless nature of their decisions:
“Their reckless actions were driven by a selfish desire to keep their baby no matter the cost – resulting in her tragic death.”
