Madeleine McCann Disappearance: British Police Say Missing Girl May Be Alive

Madeleine McCann (File/AP)

By CASSANDRA VINOGRAD, Associated Press

LONDON — British police on Wednesday asked Portugal to reopen the case of missing girl Madeleine McCann, saying that as the fifth anniversary of her disappearance approaches there is a possibility she is still alive.

Police also released a new image of what McCann would likely look like today, expressing hope that she would be found even years after the then-3-year-old vanished on May 3 while on a trip to Portugal with her family.

The case sparked global interest because of heartbreaking images of the girl beamed around the world and, in part, because her parents were briefly considered suspects before they were cleared.

In a rare press conference on the case, Detective Chief Inspector Andy Redwood said he is leading a team of 37 police officers reviewing some 40,000 pieces of evidence gathered so far. The team has identified some 195 possible leads to be followed up on, he said.

Redwood said forensic evidence of the sequence of events around her disappearance shows there are moments when she could have been snatched by criminals. He said he had an "open mind" on who could have abducted her, but asked for the help of Portuguese authorities, who closed the case in 2008.

"We would like the case to be reopened; our case is clear," Redwood told reporters Wednesday. "I should stress quite clearly that the decision is in Portugal."

He acknowledged that police have to consider that McCann may be dead despite hopes that she is alive.

"Our drive on both scenarios is of equal measure," he said, choosing his words carefully.

There has been no reliable indication of what might have happened to the girl despite numerous reported sightings from around the world.

Redwood said he has made seven visits to Portugal and is working closely with Portuguese police officers. He has had regular contact with the missing girl's parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, who have pressed to keep the case in the public eye, publishing a book and appearing on the "Oprah Winfrey Show."

Police said the investigation has cost about 2 million pounds ($3.2 million) so far.

Comments

[sinbad16]

04:37 PM on 04/27/2012

I think there is something strange going on regarding the Panorama programme.
When I first heard it was going to be aired on Wednesday night my first thought was, "Oh for gods sake I hope the UK police aren't going to make complete fools of themselves by saying they are confident that they can solve this case after all this time".
After watching it there are a few things that I just find odd.
1. Panorama, as far as I can recall, is never on for only half an hour.
2. Panorama, as far as I can recall, is never aired as early as 7.30pm. I actually missed it because of this and was really quite upset at missing it.
3. Panorama was repeated twice on the same night, so I was able to see it after all. I have never known Panorama to be repeated like this. BBC1 does not repeat its programmes the way this one was on Wednesday night.
4. What was the purpose of this shortened version of Panorama. It told us nothing new, which I appreciate as this would forewarn the culprits.
5. Why was Robert Murat the only person to be interviewed in this short programme?

Maybe my imagination is just running wild. Does anyone else find it odd?

[RCDawg85]

03:36 AM on 04/27/2012

What a useless article. Of course she may still be alive. ANY missing person whose body has not been found may still be alive. They didn't even give a reason as to why they think she might be alive.

[jstafrnd03]

10:28 AM on 04/26/2012

JUST SO DAMN SAD!!!

[tccat4]

07:35 AM on 04/26/2012

I have always hoped they would find her. But I blame the parents leaving the children alone and going out to eat. I never left any of my children alone, all it takes only a few seconds and they can get into anything.

[heathrk100]

05:42 AM on 04/26/2012

What I really don't understand is how the parents escaped prosecution for child neglect and child endangerment when they left their children ALONE in a hotel room while they went out to dinner at the restaurant!!! I don't care if the restaurant was just downstairs..the child was 3. They should have been charged...no doubt in my mind. They are the reason that their daughter was abducted!

[pslcitizen]

03:12 AM on 04/26/2012

What a doll. I hope they find her safe & sound.

[taunya34]

10:57 PM on 04/25/2012

please use a medium...ask sylvia brown or someone that is educated in this feild...it may help...i beleieve it will....

[Julie McCuiston]

04:25 AM on 04/26/2012

Sylvia Brown told the parents of a missing boy that he was dead on national TV I will NEVER forget the horrible look on their faces as she took away their hope. Thank god he was recovered healthy after he rescued the newest child who had been kidnapped by the same pervert who took him. I have no faith in Sylvia anymore. Too sad!

[gmomdefeo]

10:54 AM on 04/26/2012

Hello Julie
I did not know about this case.As for Sylvia Brown, She put a knife right into the hearts of these parents. I am so happy to hear that the child was found safe. but have no respect for Miss Brown. God bless this little boy and his family.

[Julie McCuiston]

04:31 AM on 04/26/2012

Here is the young man Sylvia claimed she saw dead.....http://www.shawnhornbeck.com/

[praymondc]

08:44 PM on 04/25/2012

After taking the focus off JonBenet Ramsey's parents the case went cold, same as with this McCann child.... Of course, there's a chance this child is still alive provided her parents aren't the perpetrators... and like with the Ramseys, this is still a very big if! Hopefully these cases will be resolved and I suspect the answers, if and when found, will hit very close to home.

[Accipiter Ursio]

06:08 AM on 04/30/2012

The problem was that politics got in the way. If your child is missing you wait for 50 minutes before you call the police? Call a Public relations first ? have the Bristish Ambassasor stall the investigation ? have the assistance some trash that only wants to sell newspapers ?

[DKC123]

04:56 PM on 04/25/2012

This case has so many strange elements. It seems as though her family (if the culprits were not family, which all official accounts seem to be saying family wasn't involved) was being watched. How else would someone know there was a child in that room, that the door was left unlocked, ect? It doesn't seem likely someone was just going about testing door knobs for an unlocked door and got lucky. And this resort is a more expensive place it seems, so whoever did this would have had to fit in. A scruffy, dirty, drugged out ragamuffin would have stood out like a sore thumb. So it appears whoever is responsible was able to blend in. Which adds a level of sophistication to it. If that is the case, why her? No ransom has been demanded, her parents had the means to hire a full force to look for her, so why take HER? Why not go after some kid who would be less likely to be missed? And why no other abductions in a similar manner since then? If this was some sort of child abduction ring, there would be more abductions yes? So many things just don't add up. I hope she is found, one way or another, and whoever is responsible pays for their crimes.

[arabianway]

06:47 PM on 04/25/2012

There is a documentary that goes a long way to answering these questions. It seems this little girl was targeted for kidnap, and not for money from the parents. After watching, it is clear the parents had nothing to do with it, and the part about them leaving their kids alone to go out to dinner is very misleading as the members of their party of friends took turns checking on all the children. This Portugese beach town is very laid back and not enough was done early on while they suspected the McCanns..

[Accipiter Ursio]

05:59 AM on 04/26/2012

Clear ? clearly muddy. And as for the info you have don't forget you are relying on Oprah's show's ( circus ) and Sun's and "news of the World" and the likes. if they tell you santa Claus or fairies exists you believe

[TracyLee]

10:12 PM on 04/25/2012

The door was locked. Someone knocked and the little girl opened the door. This person took her far away quickly (changed her looks?) or worse.

Testing doors is a great way to rob. It happens all the time. Hotel doors, car doors, etc.

I believe someone heard in the restuarant that the kids were alone. Or someone observed the parents checking on the kids.

Either way, only dummies leave small children alone. I bet they never did that again.

[berrygal66]

10:47 PM on 04/25/2012

Where did you hear that the door was locked? I am interested. Every single thing that I have ever read regarding this case stated that the parents went to dinneer while leaving three sleeping children in a hotel room that was NOT locked.

[DKC123]

11:41 PM on 04/25/2012

I was under the impression the door was unlocked. And yes, testing doors is a great way to rob, but robbers don't usually kidnap children. A robber or thief is after something completely different. Had it been a robber who panicked if say Madeliene woke up and saw him and killed her, I would expect her body would have been easily found. It doesn't sound as though the perpetrator was after anything other than a child. Which is why I think someone must have been watching them. This doesn't just seem like a crime of opportunity as a simple robbery would be.

[Daisy1951]

04:54 PM on 04/25/2012

We can only hope she will be found . would be a miracle. i can not understand how some one can take your child if you are right there with them..i would never let my kids out of my sight for any thinging when they was that young. but maybe we will get a miracle and they will find her.

[Daisy1951]

04:47 PM on 04/25/2012

WOULD BE WONDERFUL BUT DO NOT THINK SO AFTER THIS LONG.SO SAD BEAUTIFUL CHILD

[mo524]

04:18 PM on 04/25/2012

If she is alive I do hope they find her.

[piul05]

04:17 PM on 04/25/2012

Let's not even go into the fact that this couple left Madeleine, aged 3 and 18-month-old twins alone, night after night, out of sight, in a hotel bedroom, on a ground floor, with a window facing the street and 100 yards from where they would be socializing with their friends. And that in a hotel with comprehensive babysitting arrangements and in a country where people take their children late for dinner with them.

Let's also set aside the reason why is it that it took them nearly 50 minutes to call the police, by which time the had already been crawling with people, contaminating any evidence.

And let's leave out for now, the evidence found by English police dogs in the booth of their rented car.

Only for starters, her parents should go back to Portugal and cooperate, by answering the 40 questions the police had for them.

[Colton H]

12:39 AM on 04/26/2012

Watch the documentary and read facts before spewing your words.

[Accipiter Ursio]

06:05 AM on 04/26/2012

He is telling the truth sunshine, forget the screenplay you've watched

[piul05]

09:31 AM on 04/26/2012

I did better than that; I followed the story from day one.

And everything I said is public knowledge.

[Ziggy Hudson]

05:29 PM on 04/25/2012

i.diot

[meprimate]

06:09 PM on 04/25/2012

Think that will get you fan no. 93, hot shot?

[Ronald Ferreira]

03:55 PM on 04/25/2012

if i had an object from her id probably be able to track her down. through psychometry.

[4catsandadog]

06:17 PM on 04/25/2012

Please elaborate... I find this fascinating.

[Ronald Ferreira]

06:55 PM on 04/25/2012

psychometry is the ability to see from an objects past specially during violence or murder which leaves a powerful vibration on objects they wore. and bits of images can be picked up as psychic flash pictures