The baby of Constance Marten could have died several weeks ago, police said on Thursday. So far they had been unable to confirm the gender of the newborn which was discovered on Wednesday.
The 35-year-old aristocrat was arrested on Monday along with her partner Mark Gordon. Both were initially held on suspicion of child neglect.
On Tuesday police said they had been further arrested on suspicion of "gross negligence manslaughter", however at that point they were still searching for the missing child. The baby was finally found a day later.
Speaking at a press conference on Thursday Detective Superintendent Lewis Basford said the baby found in the Constance Marten and Mark Gordon investigation “may have been dead for some time” and the case has been referred to the police watchdog.
Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, the Metropolitan Police officer said: “At this stage we have not yet been able to confirm the baby’s gender and post-mortem examination has not yet taken place. Despite this, based on our inquiries we’ve carried out so far, we believe sadly the baby may have been dead for some time before they were found.
“It is too early for us to provide a more specific date. Because we believe the death occurred during the course of a missing person investigation we have made a mandatory referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). This is standard protocol for such circumstances.”
He said officers investigating the case were “devastated” by its outcome as he confirmed Constance Marten and Mark Gordon remain in custody. The warrant for further detention granted on Wednesday lasts until Thursday evening, he said.
He told the briefing “We are truly devastated by the outcome and we know this emotion is being felt here in Brighton and across the country today. We know there are still many unanswered questions, and it is important that we give the investigation team the time and space they need to establish more details about the circumstances of this tragic death.”
Subscribe here for the latest news where you live
He added that Met officers will remain in the Brighton area over the coming days as inquiries continue.
In a statement released by the Met DS Basford confirmed it is believed the baby may have been dead for “several weeks”. He said: “Based on the inquiries we’ve carried out so far, we believe, sadly, the baby had been dead for several weeks before they were found. It’s too early for us to provide a more specific date.”
Chief Superintendent James Collis of Sussex Police said the large-scale police presence around Brighton will be scaled back as the investigation moves into a “new phase”. He said police had been “overwhelmed by kind messages and support” from the public as they carried out the search for the infant.
Speaking at the press conference he added: “The latest developments mean that the investigation is moving into a new phase and while the Metropolitan Police will remain in the area, the larger police presence for the search will be scaled back.”
Constance Marten, 35, and Mark Gordon, 48, had been on the run since January 5 when their car was found abandoned and on fire next to the M61 in Bolton. They were arrested after a passer-by spotted them in Brighton.
On Thursday morning, a cordon was in place at allotments which were at the centre of Wednesday’s search. They were still being swept by officers from the Metropolitan Police, which is leading the investigation.
A forensic tent and police vans were in place in cordoned off Golf Drive while a nearby woodland area frequented by dog walkers was also closed to the public.
