The disappearance of Madeleine McCann, a 3-year-old British girl from a holiday spot in Portugal, has captured the attention of many and recent revelations have once again brought the case into the spotlight. McCann’s case is one of the most renowned disappearances worldwide, causing shock waves across Europe and leading to an international manhunt and years of speculation.
What’s even more astounding is that even after nearly 13 years since the young girl went missing, this case shows no signs of conclusion. The most recent development revolves around a German sex offender who is currently incarcerated. German investigators believe that Madeleine is no longer alive and are treating it as a homicide investigation.
The mystery of the Madeleine McCann case is now almost 13 years old and remains unsolved and shrouded in uncertainty. The three-year-old girl disappeared from the Portuguese apartment while on holiday with her parents and siblings.
The Events Surrounding Madeleine McCann’s Disappearance
On 3 May 2007, Madeleine, from Rothley, Leicestershire, was vacationing at the Ocean Club in Praia da Luz, Portugal. Gerry and Kate McCann were holidaying in Praia da Luz, Portugal, with their three children – Madeleine, nearly four, and twins Sean and Amelie, two.
They chose to dine with their friends at the plaza, leaving Madeleine and her siblings alone in the apartment where they were asleep, approximately 100 yards away. Despite taking measures to periodically monitor them, when it was Kate McCann’s turn to check on them, she discovered that Madeleine had vanished from the apartment.
They immediately notified the police and mobilized staff and guests to conduct a search until daybreak. Numerous volunteers joined the efforts to find Madeleine before it was deemed too late. Portuguese police suspected that Madeleine had been abducted while they held on to the hope that she was still alive and in Portugal.
Days later, the McCanns were named as suspects by the investigators, which caused them to return to the UK. However, the case remained unsolved, prompting the couple to publish a book titled “Madeleine McCann” in 2010 to draw more attention to their daughter’s case. This led to the involvement of the metropolitan police for two years at the behest of Prime Minister David Cameron.
A New Phase of Investigation
Prior to the announcement by Portuguese police that they were not reopening the case, BBC News released a digital image of Madeleine at the age of nine, and subsequently, UK detectives took over the case and began scrutinizing it in detail.
Following this, investigators reported having identified several persons of interest and proclaimed having new evidence and witnesses. By October, UK investigators had identified 41 potential suspects, and an investigation was initiated to run parallel with Portuguese authorities’ new lines of inquiry.
In January 2014, British investigators flew to Portugal with the intention of making arrests. The investigation continued, but no progress was made. The British government revealed that the investigation had cost over £10m. In April 2017, all the official suspects were removed from the investigation by the police.
The Ongoing Search for the Last Two Years
In June 2020, police revealed that a 43-year-old German prisoner named Christian B. has been identified as a suspect. The McCanns expressed gratitude to the police and affirmed their determination to find Madeleine alive, despite German detectives presuming it to be a kidnapping and murder case.
They emphasized their unwavering hope of finding Madeleine alive and are continuing their struggle for her return. On May 20, 2021, her parents refused to lose hope on her 18th birthday and pledged to keep fighting for her.
