Appeal for missing parents and their child in Essex

Our work to find Mark Gordon, Constance Marten and their new-born baby has continued throughout the night, with officers reviewing hours of CCTV from across Colchester.

As a result of that work, we now have a number of confirmed sightings in the city.

At this stage, we are following several strong lines of enquiry.

We continue to liaise with transport companies in order to identify whether there has been any onward travel from Colchester.

Officers have also worked through the night to visit every single hotel and bed and breakfast in the city to establish whether the couple and their baby have recently stayed with them.

That work is continuing today and leaflets identifying Mark and Constance are being delivered across the city.

We remain extremely focused on doing all we can to find them and to ensure their new-born baby is medically well.

Detective Chief Inspector Rob Huddleston said:

“As we have said previously, from our perspective this search is about the young child’s welfare.
“We know some elements of the public may see police involvement as unwelcome and I would seek to assure you that we do not wish to impose ourselves for any reason other than to make sure the new-born baby is alive and well.
“I am a parent myself and I know the bond a mother and father have with their child, but I would appeal directly to Mark and Constance to put the welfare of their child first.
“To you, Constance, medical professionals still need to assess your baby to make sure he or she is medically well and there no underlying issues for which he or she may need help for. Indeed, medical professionals would like to examine you for the same reasons.
“Please, get in contact any way you would like to. We are here and ready to help you.”.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of the couple and their child should call us on 101 immediately.

We have been liaising with colleagues in Greater Manchester Police in the search of two people and a baby after a number of sightings were reported in north Essex on Saturday 7 January.

Given that these are the only sightings of Constance Marten, Mark Gordon and their new-born child since Thursday 5 January, we have agreed to now lead the search for them.

We believe their vehicle broke down near junction four (Farnworth, Bolton) of the M61 on Thursday 5 January 2023. The family left the vehicle and the motorway safely – walking to the Anchor Lane bridge which links the Highfield and Little Hulton areas.

Initial enquiries suggest that Constance had very recently given birth and neither she nor the baby have been assessed by medical professionals.

We believe they initially travelled to Liverpool before Mark, Constance and a child were seen by a member of the public in Harwich at about 9am on Saturday morning.

There is also a confirmed sighting in Colchester about an hour later.

Detective Chief Inspector Rob Huddleston said:

“Clearly, the overriding concern that we share with our colleagues at Greater Manchester Police is for Mark and Constance’s new-born child.
“We do not wish to interrupt their family life; this search is primarily to ensure the welfare of the couple’s child.
“We are carrying out a number of enquires in and around Colchester in order to locate them. We’re also liaising with colleagues at British Transport Police around potential onward travel from Colchester.
“I would ask the people of Colchester, and indeed wider north Essex, to please familiarise yourself with Mark and Constance’s faces and report any sightings to us immediately.”