by British police searching for the child of an aristocrat and her partner have found the remains of a baby.
The discovery was made in an area of woodland after hundreds of officers and volunteers searched an area spanning 230 square kilometres near Brighton, on England’s south coast, the BBC reports.
On Tuesday, London’s Metropolitan Police said in a statement that Constance Marten, 35, and Mark Gordon, 48, had been “initially arrested on suspicion of child neglect,” but were later “further arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter”.
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In an update on Wednesday, Detective Superintendent Lewis Basford said a baby’s body had been discovered close to where the couple were arrested on Monday.
“This is an outcome that myself and that many officers who have been part of this search had hoped would not happen,” he said.
“I recognise the impact this news will have on many people who have been following this story closely and can assure them that we will do everything we possibly can to establish what has happened.”
Police said a post-mortem examination will now be held to help investigators find out what happened. Earlier, police were granted a further 36 hours to question the couple.
The search for the couple and newborn began in early January, with police releasing several appeals and offering a A$18,000 reward for information that would lead to their discovery.
Marten is the daughter of aristocrat Napier Marten, a film and music producer.
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Timeline
On January 5, police inquiries identified Marten and Gordon as the occupants of a car that had caught fire on a highway in the northwestern town of Bolton, England.
The pair were not at the scene and most of their belongings were destroyed in the fire, according to police, who launched a missing persons investigation.
Several confirmed sightings of the couple by members of the public were reported in the days following their disappearance.
The pair and their baby had left the highway safely, and police used sightings and security camera footage to map their movements through various UK cities and towns.
On January 7, the pair were seen in London with their faces covered leaving a taxi with an orange carrier bag and a pram.
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Using cash, they paid for various items, including a two-man tent, two sleeping bags and two pillows, which made detectives fear they had been camping or sleeping rough, at a time of cold temperatures.
The couple dumped the buggy and other items later that day before continuing to travel.
