The sibling of a convicted rapist has revealed shocking details after he and his wealthy girlfriend were sentenced to prison for the death of their infant daughter. Mark Gordon, 51, and Constance Marten, 38, engaged in a tumultuous relationship and tried to hide their newborn child, Victoria, from authorities. Tragically, the baby passed away, leading to their arrest and subsequent 14-year imprisonment for negligence.
Following their sentencing at the Old Bailey in London, Gordon’s half-sister Karen Satchell disclosed that he aspired to start afresh after his previous incarceration, even having another child before disappearing with Marten. Karen shared that Gordon’s family never met Constance, unaware of the children or the struggles they faced with social services.
Gordon met Marten in a shop in Tottenham in 2014, after serving time in jail. Despite being nicknamed “The Preacher” by fellow inmates for quoting the bible, he kept his first child a secret until she was two. Karen observed his increasing paranoia after splitting from his child’s mother and getting involved with Marten.
The couple resorted to living in a tent in Wales to evade Marten’s family, where they had their first child in 2017. Gordon remained distant from his family, seeking help discreetly and expressing concerns about being monitored. Their subsequent children were taken into care before they went on the run in a desperate attempt to retain custody of their newborn.
Caught on CCTV scavenging for food despite having substantial funds, the pair faced further distress when Victoria’s body was discovered in a discarded bag in Brighton. Karen, who last spoke to Mark before their disappearance, lamented the tragic turn of events and acknowledged their grave error.
The defendants’ ill-fated saga underscores a troubling narrative of secrecy, tragedy, and poor choices that culminated in a heartbreaking loss.