Aristocrat Constance Marten, her partner Mark Gordon and their newborn baby disappeared on January 5.
(CNN) --
The body of a baby was found in a wooded area in southern England, near the place where aristocrat Constance Marten and her partner Mark Gordon were arrested earlier this week amid concerns for the well-being of their son, British authorities reported on Wednesday.
"It is my sad duty to report that this afternoon police officers searching a wooded area near where Constance Marten and Mark Gordon were arrested discovered the remains of an infant," Detective Superintendent Lewis said in a statement Wednesday. Basford of the Metropolitan Police Area Command East.
The Police detain an aristocrat and her partner, but the search for a missing baby continues
"An autopsy will be performed in due course," the statement added.
Marten, 35, and Gordon, 48, were arrested earlier this week after going missing in early January.
It is believed that they were traveling with a newborn.
This Tuesday, the London Metropolitan Police said in a statement that the couple had been "initially arrested on suspicion of child neglect", but later "were also arrested on suspicion of grossly negligent homicide".
Police helicopters, sniffer dogs, thermal imaging cameras and drones were used to help more than 200 officers on the ground search for the baby after the couple were located and arrested Monday in Brighton, southern England.
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A crime scene has already been established around the baby's remains, where work is expected to "continue for some time," Basford said.
"This is an outcome that I and the many officers who have been involved in the search hoped would not happen," he said.
"I recognize the impact this news will have on the many people who have followed this story closely, and I can assure you that we will do everything we can to find out what happened."
Search since January
The search for the couple and the newborn began in early January.
Police made several appeals and offered a reward of 10,000 pounds ($12,090) for information leading to finding them.
Marten is the daughter of aristocrat Napier Marten, a film and music producer.
In an audio appeal to his daughter, published by Britain's The Independent last month, Napier Marten said Constance was "very, very dear, whatever the circumstances", adding that the family was "deeply concerned" about your well-being and that of your child.
"Dear Constance, even though we are still estranged at this time, I am here for you, as I have always done and as the family has always done, to do whatever it takes to get you back safely to us."
"I beg you to find a way to turn yourself and your little one over to the police as soon as possible so that both you and he or she can be protected. Only then can a healing and recovery process begin, however long, however difficult." whatever it turns out," he added.
In a new information appeal last week, Basford stated that more than 630 hours of security camera footage had been reviewed and that police had received more than 350 calls from citizens.
He explained at the time that they "were not doing this and putting so much resources and effort into finding the family just to inconvenience or interfere," but explained that the police "have genuine concern for the health and well-being of the baby, and Constance and Mark, and it's our duty to make sure they're okay."
Chronology
On January 5, police investigations identified Marten and Gordon as the occupants of a vehicle that had caught fire on a road in the town of Bolton, north-west England.
The couple was not at the scene and most of their belongings were destroyed in the fire, according to police, who have launched a missing persons investigation.
Several citizens confirmed having seen the couple in the days following their disappearance.
The couple and their baby had made it safely off the motorway, and police used the sightings and security camera footage to map their movements through various cities and towns in the UK.
On January 7, the couple were seen in London with their faces covered getting out of a taxi with an orange bag and a baby carriage.
Using cash, they paid for various items, including a two-person tent, two sleeping bags, and two pillows, which made detectives fear that they had been camping or sleeping outdoors, in a time of low temperatures. .
The couple disposed of the stroller and other items later that day before continuing on their journey.
abandoned baby
