Day 1:
On May 3rd, 2007, Madeleine McCann was on vacation in Praria da Luz, Portugal, with her parents and younger twin siblings. They were from Rothley, Leicestershire England and Madeleine was just 9 days shy of her fourth birthday. Her parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, along with a group of their friends, headed out for dinner that night and left the children at the Ocean Club where they were staying. The restaurant was within the resort complex and only about 50 years away from the room they were staying in, where they had left the children after putting them to bed. The adults had a system throughout their trip of leaving the children in bed whilst they went out for dinner and periodically checking on them throughout the night. Kate McCann went on her turn to check on the children and discovered that Madeleine was missing. She immediately alerted the resort staff, who then notified other guests and local law enforcement. A complex search immediately ensued throughout the night, but there was no sign of Madeleine. Hundreds of civilians alongside airport staff and border police were notified and continued the search.
Initial Investigation:
There was negativity and tension surrounding the investigation from the start. The first issue was the criticism of the Portuguese police due to their multiple theories: abduction, that Madeleine had wondered off on her own and gotten hurt, and the theory that one of Madeleine’s parents or one of the other adults on their trip was involved in crimes against her. Portuguese police advertised that they mainly believed that she had been abducted but was still alive. Jurisdictional issues followed in Madeleine’s case due to the Portuguese feeling stepped on by the UK’s Metropolitan Police, since they were becoming involved since Madeleine was a UK citizen.
Sightings and Leads:
There were many tips, reports, and call ins of possible sightings of Madeleine everywhere from Portugal, to Spain and Morocco. None of these sightings were ever confirmed, but there was one that held police’s focus. That was of a man seen the night of the disappearance possibly carrying a child near/on the resort property where Madeleine had gone missing from. The McCann family became tired of the stalled investigation from police and decided to hire a team of private investigators, but neither efforts resulted in any concreate evidence.
Persons of Interest:
Kate and Gerry McCann were named as persons of interest for a short period of time, then eventually cleared. Investigators believed that they could have been involved in either purposeful “disposal” of Madeleine, or the more popular theory being that Madeleine died accidentally and her parents covered it up in fear of prosecution. There have been numerous persons of interest over the years, from the man who was supposedly seen carrying a child outside of the resort, to other possible suspects involved in different identifications and theories, but ultimately there has never been any arrest or confirmed people involved with Madeleine’s disappearance.
Theories:
Since Madeleine or her body has never been found, there is truly no evidence to go off of in this case. Along with the slew of persons of interest that never materialize, to there being no evidence at the scene either, pretty much everything in this case is left up to guesses and speculation. From abduction, to familial kidnapping, to involvement in criminal networks and trafficking, to the ever growing possibility of Madeleine’s case involving her death. Unfortunately, due to the lack of physical and circumstantial evidence surrounding this case, there is really no more research to be shared or leads to follow.
Today:
There have still never been any answers to the investigators, the public, or to Madeleine’s parents and family regarding her disappearance and case after almost 17 years. The case has raised important question surrounding missing children’s cases about media involvement, jurisdictional issues, and safety measures. Many people today still believe that her parents had something to do with her disappearance, whether that be in an intentional, malicious way, or in way of an unfortunate coverup. The so-called man at the scene has never been identified, and his existence has never been proven either. Madeleine McCann became the poster child for missing children’s cases around the world and was the first case of its kind to be so heavily followed by media and have such a true impact on the public. For more information, you can watch endless videos, podcasts, and documentaries on the case. You can find these over on our Twitter/X, @uatwitch #truecrime
