This month marks the 9th Anniversary of the disappearance of Madeleine McCann. It also coincides with an announcement by Scotland Yard that it is pursuing one final lead, and unless more evidence comes to light, it will prepare to wind up the investigation into how the little girl vanished from a Portuguese resort in 2007.
Despite the location of the incident and investigation teams, the case serves as a sad reminder of the unimaginable torment that closing a case can create for bereaved parents and family members.
The Case
British Police believe that Madeleine, who was aged three at the time of her disappearance, was snatched during a botched robbery by a gang of thieves. The police theory is that she woke up during the incident and, in a fit of panic, one of the men abducted her.
The suspects include Jose Carlos da Silva, a driver who often worked for guests staying at the resort where Madeleine vanished, as well as drifter Ricardo Rodrigues and drug addict Paulo Ribeiro.
Mobile phone records put the men at the scene on the night of Madeleine’s disappearance, and they have been questioned at length by Portugese and British Police. It is said that Portuguese authorities are stalling on further follow up request, saying there is no new evidence to warrant yet another round of interviews.
Madeleine’s parents believe the police hypothesis is one of the most credible, and feel that further questioning might yield results. They are understandably upset over the decision to close the case, but appreciative of the enormous effort by law enforcement to date.
The Investigation So Far…
In the nine years since Madeleine’s disappearance, police have taken 1338 statements, investigated more than 60 ‘persons of interest’ and interviewed suspects including the three former resort workers.
There have been over 9,000 reported ‘sightings’ of Madeleine, yet authorities appear no closer to cracking the case.
Police have faced criticism over the resources spent to date on the case. In 2014 alone, detectives made 67 trips to Portugal. Last year, British Detectives returned with sniffer dogs and sifted through scrubland on their hands and knees, in an area not far from the resort. They used radar scanners capable of penetrating depths of up to four metres, but found no trace of Madelaine.
It is reported that more than £11 million has already been spent on the British side of the investigation, and the team has dwindled from 29 to four members.
To mark the anniversary of Madeleine’s disappearance, her parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, held a vigil in their home town, and in an official statement on their Find Madeleine website, the couple thanked supporters and said they would always remain optimistic.
When a Case Goes Cold
Despite the investigation’s likely closure, British Police said they would not hesitate to reopen the investigation should new evidence come to light.
And while time can be an investigation’s enemy, it can be an ally too. As circumstances change, human nature also changes, and those who were previously uncooperative might decide to open up, or may let information ‘slip’ thinking enough time has passed to confess important details.
Fingerprints and DNA samples are continually added to forensic databases, and these can act as triggers for reopening cold cases. Technology is constantly improving the way police treat evidence and how they communicate across different jurisdictions and countries.
All of this offers a glimmer of hope that Madelaine’s family will one day know what happened to their little girl, and ultimately achieve some justice.
