British girl goes missing in Portugal
On this day in 2007 less than two weeks before her fourth birthday Madeleine McCann of Rothley England vanishes during a family vacation at a resort in southern Portugal.McCanns disappearance prompted an international search however she has never been found.In May 2007 the McCann familyparents Gerry and Kate McCann Madeleine and her 2-year-old twin siblings Sean and Ameliewere vacationing with a group of friends at the Ocean Club resort in Praia da Luz (Beach of Light) a tourist village along Portugals Algarve coast.On the evening of May 3 Gerry and Kate McCann went with friends to the Ocean Clubs tapas bar leaving a sleeping Madeleine and her brother and sister in the familys ground-floor apartment located near the tapas bar.
The McCanns and their friends agreed to check on the children every half hour.At around 10 p.m.Kate McCann went to the apartment and discovered Madeleine was missing.Portuguese police initially believed the little girl had wandered off and would be quickly found.
As a result they failed to promptly distribute a description of the missing child or search cars crossing the Portugal-Spain border less than two hours from Praia da Luz.McCanns disappearance generated widespread media coverage in Europe and beyond.English soccer star David Beckham made a televised plea for her safe return and Harry Potter author J.K.Rowling reportedly donated millions to help find the little girl.
Gerry and Kate McCann observant Catholics also had an audience in Rome with Pope Benedict who blessed a photo of Madeleine.On September 7 2007 Portuguese officials named Gerry and Kate McCann both of whom are physicians as suspects in their daughters disappearance.Soon after authorities leaked word that Madeleines DNA had been discovered in the trunk of the car her parents rented in Portugal almost a month after she vanished.
There was speculation that the McCanns in order to enjoy an evening out had given their children sedatives and that Madeleine had a fatal reaction to the dosage she received.Afterward the McCanns faked her abduction and hid her body for weeks before transferring it to the trunk of their rental car.Gerry and Kate McCann labeled this theory ridiculous particularly given the fact that they were under intense media scrutiny and constantly followed by reporters.
The local Portuguese police chief later admitted that the DNA tests were inconclusive.In July 2008 Gerry and Kate McCann were formally cleared by Portuguese officials of any involvement in their daughters disappearance.A third person who had been considered the cases only other formal suspect a British man living in Portugal was cleared as well.Additionally Portugals attorney general said there was insufficient evidence for police to continue their investigation.The McCanns hired private detectives to keep looking for their daughter and have made publicity tours throughout Europe and the U.S.
to raise awareness about her plight.In November 2010 the couple signed a deal to write a book about their search for Madeleine the proceeds of which will go toward continuing to fund the investigation.
