Constance Marten and Mark Gordon convicted of manslaughter of their baby
- Constance Marten and Mark Gordon were found guilty of manslaughter of their baby daughter Victoria after living off-grid.
- The couple's vehicle was discovered on fire, leading to a nationwide search for them, culminating in Victoria's remains being found.
- The case sparked significant public interest and the couple now faces sentencing for their actions.
In July 2023, Constance Marten and Mark Gordon were found guilty of manslaughter in connection to the death of their baby daughter, Victoria. The couple had been evading authorities, living off-grid in a tent in the South Downs of England. Victoria's remains were discovered after officials launched a nationwide search when the couple's vehicle caught fire on a motorway near Bolton, Greater Manchester. Tragically, the decomposition of the remains prevented the determination of the exact cause of death, though prosecutors argued it was due to hypothermia in the harsh conditions they were in. The defence claimed her death was an accidental smothering after Marten fell asleep beside her. Following their conviction, Marten applied to appeal the verdict, while Gordon faced an additional charge related to his status as a registered sex offender, which was ultimately dropped when the Crown Prosecution Service deemed it not in the public interest after the manslaughter verdict. The couple, who remain in custody, are scheduled to be sentenced at the Old Bailey on September 15, 2023, and may face several years of imprisonment.