50 Facts About Madeleine McCann

The Disappearance of Madeleine McCann

Madeleine McCann's disappearance remains one of the most perplexing and widely reported missing-person cases. Her story has captivated the world for years, and the details surrounding her case are both intricate and heartbreaking. Let's explore the key facts about this mysterious case.

1. Madeleine Beth McCann vanished from her bed in a holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, Portugal, on May 3, 2007, around 22:00.
2. At the time of her disappearance, Madeleine was just three years old.
3. The McCann family was staying at the Ocean Club resort in Praia da Luz, a popular tourist destination in southern Portugal.
4. Madeleine was on holiday with her parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, and her two-year-old twin siblings.
5. The group also included seven friends and eight children in total, known as the "Tapas Seven".

The Night of the Disappearance

The night Madeleine disappeared, her parents and their friends had a system in place to check on their children. Despite these precautions, Madeleine went missing.

6. The McCann children were left asleep in the apartment while their parents dined with friends in a restaurant 55 meters (180 ft) away.
7. Matthew Oldfield, one of the Tapas Seven, offered to check on the children at 21:30 but did not enter the bedroom far enough to see if Madeleine was there.
8. Kate McCann made her own check of the apartment at around 22:00, discovering that Madeleine was missing.
9. Police were called immediately, and staff and guests at the complex searched for Madeleine until daybreak.
10. Border police and airport staff were put on alert, and hundreds of volunteers joined the search efforts in the following days.

Initial Police Investigation

The initial investigation by Portuguese police faced several challenges and criticisms, including the handling of forensic evidence and the direction of their inquiries.

11. Portuguese police initially believed Madeleine was abducted but still alive and in Portugal.
12. In June 2007, a Portuguese police chief admitted that vital forensic clues may have been destroyed as the scene was not protected properly.
13. British police sent sniffer dogs to assist the investigation in July 2007, and inspections of the McCann's apartment and rental car were conducted.
14. By August 2007, it had been 100 days since Madeleine disappeared, and investigating officers publicly acknowledged she may not be found alive.
15. On September 7, 2007, Portuguese detectives made Kate and Gerry McCann "arguidos" (suspects), which was lifted when Portugal's attorney general archived the case in July 2008 for lack of evidence.

The McCanns as Suspects

The McCanns faced intense scrutiny and were even named suspects in their daughter's disappearance, a status that was later lifted.

16. The McCanns were given arguido status due to misinterpreted DNA analysis and suspicions that they might have covered up an accident in the apartment.
17. However, no new evidence justified re-questioning them, and their status was lifted.
18. Kate McCann refused to answer 48 police questions during her interrogation, citing that being treated as a suspect was distracting from the search for Madeleine.
19. Portuguese police alleged that Madeleine died in the apartment and her parents faked her abduction to cover up the death.
20. Chief Inspector Goncalo Amaral, the inquiry’s coordinator, was removed from his post after suggesting that British police were only pursuing leads helpful to the McCanns and ignoring them as suspects.

Private and International Investigations

Despite the initial setbacks, the search for Madeleine continued with private investigations and international efforts.

21. The McCanns continued the investigation using private detectives until Scotland Yard opened its own inquiry, Operation Grange, in 2011.
22. Scotland Yard treated the disappearance as "a criminal act by a stranger," most likely a planned abduction or burglary gone wrong.
23. In 2013, Portuguese police reopened their inquiry after Scotland Yard's new leads.
24. Operation Grange was scaled back in 2015 but continued with a small number of significant inquiries.
25. In 2020, German authorities declared Christian Brückner their prime suspect for the abduction and murder of Madeleine McCann.

Media Coverage and Public Response

The media played a significant role in the case, both in raising awareness and in scrutinizing the McCanns.

26. Madeleine's disappearance attracted sustained press coverage reminiscent of Princess Diana's death in 1997.
27. Her parents were subjected to intense scrutiny and baseless allegations of involvement in her death, particularly in the tabloid press and on Twitter.
28. In 2011, the McCanns testified before the Leveson Inquiry into British press misconduct, lending support to those arguing for tighter press regulation.
29. They and their traveling companions received damages and apologies from Express Newspapers in 2008.
30. The McCanns were on holiday with seven friends and eight children in all, including the McCanns' three. The nine adults dined together most evenings at the resort's tapas restaurant, dubbed the "Tapas Seven".

Ongoing Efforts and Developments

Despite years of investigations and numerous leads, Madeleine’s whereabouts remain unknown. The case continues to be a subject of public interest and speculation.

31. Jane Tanner reported seeing a man carry a child away from the resort 45 minutes before Madeleine was reported missing, which became one of the most-discussed aspects of the case.
32. Kate McCann was interviewed by Portuguese police as a witness on June 6, 2007. She was asked detailed questions about her parenting methods and the events of the night Madeleine disappeared.
33. Kate McCann was questioned about her behavior that night, including whether she remained seated on Madeleine’s bed without moving and if she had considered handing over Madeleine’s custody to a relative in England.
34. The McCanns were questioned about DNA evidence found in the trunk of their car and behind a sofa in the apartment. They denied any involvement in her disappearance and claimed they couldn’t explain the DNA results.
35. When sniffer dogs marked human blood behind the sofa and in the boot of the vehicle, Kate McCann said she couldn’t explain it further, adding to the suspicion.

Public Campaigns and Appeals

The McCanns have made numerous public appeals and campaigns to keep the search for Madeleine alive.

36. Kate, Gerry, and their supporters founded the Find Madeleine campaign to raise awareness and funds for the investigation.
37. In 2009, they released a poster of what Madeleine might look like when she was six years old.
38. In May 2011, Kate published a book about Madeleine's disappearance, with proceeds used to replenish the fund for private investigations.
39. In 2013, Portuguese police reopened their investigation into Madeleine’s disappearance, citing new evidence. Ground-penetrating radar was used at three sites near Praia da Luz to uncover more clues.
40. In May 2011, Scotland Yard launched a government-funded investigative review focusing on uncovering "a criminal act by a stranger." The operation was scaled down in 2015 with a reduced number of officers.

Recent Developments

The case has seen some recent developments, including new suspects and ongoing investigations.

41. In 2016, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe stated there was "one final lead" in the case, but no conclusive evidence was found by May 2017, the 10-year anniversary of Madeleine’s disappearance.
42. Kate described the anniversary as a "horrible marker of time, stolen time," reflecting on the years of searching and uncertainty.
43. The McCanns have reportedly refused to participate in a Netflix documentary about their daughter's disappearance, stating they want nothing to do with it.
44. In June 2020, German police revealed Christian Brückner as their prime suspect for Madeleine's abduction and murder. German investigators have classed it as a murder inquiry, assuming Madeleine is dead.
45. The UK's Metropolitan Police received over 270 calls and emails since launching a new appeal for information in 2020.

The Search Continues

Despite the passage of time, the search for Madeleine McCann continues, driven by the hope of finding answers.

46. Gerry McCann released a video in November 2007 stating he believed his family was watched by "a predator" in the days before Madeleine’s disappearance.
47. In January 2008, the McCanns released sketches of a suspect based on a description by a British holidaymaker of a "creepy man" seen at the resort.
48. In April 2008, Portuguese police flew to the UK to sit in on interviews conducted by Leicestershire Police of the McCanns' friends they had dinner with on the night Madeleine disappeared.
49. By July 2008, Portuguese police had submitted their final report on the case, and weeks later, authorities shelved their investigation and lifted the arguido status of the McCanns.
50. On November 3, 2009, new images of how Madeleine might now look were released.

The Ongoing Mystery

Madeleine McCann's disappearance remains one of the most perplexing cases in recent history. Despite extensive investigations, media coverage, and public interest, her whereabouts are still unknown. The case has seen numerous twists, from the initial abduction theory to the controversial suspect status of her parents, and the involvement of international police forces. The introduction of Christian Brückner as a prime suspect in 2020 brought renewed hope, but no charges have been made. The McCanns continue to search for answers, driven by the belief that Madeleine might still be found. This case underscores the importance of thorough investigations and the relentless pursuit of truth. As the world watches, the hope for Madeleine's safe return endures, keeping her story alive in the hearts of many.