"Hi, I'm Eddie. My dad trained me and our Keela to search for cadavers and blood. Our sensitive noses help dad find out where the evidence is hidden so he can help the forensic scientists take samples for further analysis.By Caroline Gammell in Praia da Luz
Last Updated: 12:01am BST 30/09/2007
The steps where Madeleine fell
Portuguese police believe Madeleine McCann died after falling down a flight of steps and that her parents panicked, hiding her body because they feared being blamed, it was claimed yesterday.
It was alleged that the four-year-old smashed the back of her head on a ceramic flagstone at her family’s holiday apartment in Praia da Luz.
Fearing they would be charged with manslaughter, Kate and Gerry McCann then got rid of the body, possibly with the help of their friends, it was alleged.
The latest theory against the couple, who are official suspects in their daughter’s disappearance, was dismissed as “ludicrous and unsubstantiated” by their spokesman.
It emerged as a source close to the McCanns said police were investigating claims that a disgruntled ex-employee from the Ocean Club, where the family was staying, may have been involved in Madeleine’s abduction.
Mrs McCann has said she would be willing to risk going to prison by speaking out about the events of May 3 in breach of Portugal’s secrecy laws. As suspects, or arguidos, the couple are prevented from speaking about the investigation, and have expressed frustration that they are not able to defend themselves against increasingly lurid allegations regarding their daughter’s fate.
Despite the ban, they are in talks with chat-show hosts in the US in an attempt to remind people Madeleine is missing.
Yesterday, the McCanns spent a quiet day in their home town of Rothley in Leicestershire, marking 150 days since their daughter disappeared.
They are adamant that she was abducted but police in Portugal were described as “100 per cent” certain that the little girl died in the family’s apartment in the Algarve.
A senior detective told Portuguese newspaper 24 Horas: “The only thing to investigate is how the body disappeared.” The newspaper claims Madeleine fell down steps at the back of the apartment. Photographs taken at the time show a children’s safety barrier above the steps.
The new theory emerged after a report from Britain said specialist sniffer dogs had detected the “smell of death” on the steps, it was claimed. In the past, Mr and Mrs McCann, both 39, have been accused of hiding their daughter’s body because she had been sedated.
But yesterday, a source close to the couple hit back at the allegations.
Kate carrying Cuddle-Cat. The toy with cadaver scent detected by the dog Eddie.
“Where is the proof that this happened? Madeleine was put to bed at 7pm and there was a witness. When is Madeleine supposed to have fallen?
“If the police are 100 per cent certain that Madeleine fell down some steps, that means they must be able to prove she died in that way. It’s just not possible without a body.”
The couple’s spokesman, Clarence Mitchell, added: “It is just ludicrous. All of these reports are unsourced and unsubstantiated.”
A tip-off claiming that a former Ocean Club employee was involved in Madeleine’s disappearance was sent to the Prince of Wales’s official website, and passed to police.
It alleged that a maid who used to work at the Mark Warner resort kidnapped Madeleine in revenge for being fired. Police have discovered the woman identified does exist and that the tip-off came from an email address registered in the Iberian peninsula.
Mar 11, 2009 at 20:23:02
i think that sick how could u kill ur own daughter i hope u live the rest of ur life in pain and dream of her trying to get u and ur husband thats sick get a life go to hell thats awful story how could u do it
May 3, 2009 at 20:21:22
That catbag is the key I believe!
I have thought that from the first time Kate clutched it to her chest. I even rang a paper but they just said it would be inspected by Portugal.
May 17, 2009 at 18:59:50
i have thought long and hard about this case . and when ever that poor little girls name is mentioned its money, money,money,they are now sueing goncalo amaral he his a police officer with 30 years experence he knows a lier when he hears one ?
Jul 28, 2009 at 22:11:55
I feel very strongly that Madeleine had woke up that night, and was frightened, wanting her mummy and daddy to come, I feel that she had such a terrible fall , down the steps hitting her head. Madeleine’s parents are GPs they know that it’s wrong , they know all the consequences of what can happen when little children are left on their own ….. it’s terrible !!! I think they should be prosecuted for child neglect .
Sep 19, 2009 at 23:46:39
The McCanns are Doctors and that is why they are above suspicion . Harold Shipman was also a doctor .
Oct 17, 2009 at 15:30:38
My thoughts exactly, Jacquie.
Nov 3, 2009 at 05:58:41
oh come on people lay off the parents, just go back inside your head and remember the times your parents left you alone, it happens, they were on holiday in THEIR holiday home they felt safe….they went too the restaurant whats the worst that could happen.
I don’t know what happened too the girl and maybe no one will but putting blame on the parents is silly, sure they sue the police every chance they get but imagine that your child has been kidnapped and the police just want too quit saying “yep she is dead no one can find her” wouldn’t you try too get as much money as possible so that you could hire private detectives…heck i would rob a bank if i could get someone too find my son/daughter….
Nov 11, 2009 at 13:35:17
Did they test the Cuddle-Cat toy that the mum carries with her might have something on it or in it.
Jan 13, 2010 at 22:13:34
Of course the parents are guilty – they left those children alone while they were out enjoying themselves. How could Madeleine disappear and no one see anything? Whether their drinking friends knew anything about it or not is another matter. Truth will out eventually.
Jan 20, 2010 at 09:18:21
I would love to know why Kate washed cuddlecat. Her daughter has vanished and Kate washes the item Madeleine has with her a lot so her scent is all over it – last thing I would have done.
That group all left their children alone night after night, they knew they could have been prosecuted in Portugal for child neglect hence the cover up and all the lies.
I believe the dogs, Eddie and Keela you are just brilliant!
Mar 26, 2010 at 18:28:07
We’ll see how “delighted” the Ms are when the W Yorks police come to the same conclusion we all know about by now i.e. that there was no abduction. That Madeleine is dead, That Madeleine died in 5A.
Mar 26, 2010 at 19:25:48
This is how stupid they are and why they don’t stand a chance.
In front of a group of journalists, announcing the creation of ‘the fund’ a couple of days after “the incident’.
Journalist: So what will the fund be used for?
Gerry: To continue to looking for Madeleine after the official search ends.
So there you are, folks. Even though the Portuguese Polícia de Segurança Pública, the Guarda Nacional Republicana, the Policía Marítima and Army Units were searching high and low for Madeleine, our Gerry knew that they didn’t stand a chance.
During an early interview.
Q – How did you feel when you found that Madeleine had been taken?
Gerry: The only analogy I can think of is when we, as students, had gone over the top with our overdraft.
With Jenny – Women’s Hour
Jenny: ‘Was she sleeping when you left her?’
Kate: (L o n g p a u s e. . .) Errm, yes, she was, yeah.
Mar 26, 2010 at 21:12:29
I certainly think they know what happened and were involved. Watch the videos/interviews with the mccans, they are such good actors..lies lies and moore lies.I cant believe they have got away with it for so long. What sort of a parent goes on holiday and leaves their children on thier own???Hope they get what they deserve and justice will be done
Mar 28, 2010 at 20:54:19
Let us show the McCanns & Co that we do not believe a word they say. They have not uttered a single true word since May 2/3 2007.
All we’ve had from them is falsehood, subterfuge, inventions, contradictions, arrogance, heartlessness and greed.
We believe this case will remain in the annals of crime as an clear example of the point to which the some reckless perpetrators can try to confuse and bamboozle investigators. In this case because the PJ was treading on eggs for various reasons. Some of us speak fluent Portuguese and have conversed with officers at Portimão. They were obsessed with finding the body in spite of the fact that the heap of circumstantial evidence was overwhelming. If this situation had arisen in the UK, Canada, the US, France or Germany, the McCanns would have been charged, indicted, tried, convicted and sentenced ages ago.
This is how arrogant and stupid they are and some of the reasons why they don’t stand a chance.
In front of a group of journalists, announcing the creation of ‘the fund’ a couple of days after “the incident”.
Journalist: So what will the fund be used for?
Gerry: To continue looking for Madeleine after the official search ends.
So there you are, folks. Even though the Portuguese Polícia de Segurança Pública, the Guarda Nacional Republicana, the Policía Marítima and some Army Units were searching high and low for Madeleine, our Gerry knew that they didn’t stand a chance because only they knew where they had hidden Madeleine’s body. Furthermore, that’s why they stayed in the apartment and never took part in the frantic search that night. There was no point, was there?
Interview shortly after “the event”.
Q – How did you feel when you found that Madeleine had been taken?
Gerry: The only analogy I can think of is when we, as students, had gone over the top with our overdraft.
With Jenny – Women’s Hour
Jenny: ‘Was she sleeping when you left her?’
Kate: (L o n g p a u s e. . .) Errm, yes, she was, yeah.
Have you seen the latest bit of spin?
The British Police team that are reviewing the files containing the conclusions to which both the PJ and the British Officers temporarily assigned to Portimão had arrived at, i.e. what we all know: “Have been appointed to look for Madeleine”. Pathetic!
May 21, 2010 at 19:48:41
A very big penny dropped for me when I watched Goncalo Amarel’s documentary and read his book on his online webblog. It all only makes sense if it happened the way he describes, and it certainly looks likely that one or more of the McCanns friends were involved in the deception. I can’t believe that the McCanns have got away with stopping the book neing published, and the documentary being broadcast without a huge public outcry.
Site Admin: The public were duped by a gargantuan government propaganda vehicle. This is why there is no public outcry. The public were not allowed to know or see the facts in the mass media. Read “Faked Abduction” – the only English book exposing the deception (http://fakedabduction.com).
Aug 11, 2010 at 23:39:38
Madeleine’s life was wasted over a tapas dinner!was it worth IT?,,,,,Gerry and Kate: will you tell the twins that the only reason their big sister is gone is because the 2 people she most trusted has abandoned them on the 3rd of may ?and Gerry is not very polite to swear in front of children on the home video made by your tapas 9 friend when he told u(gerry)to put your hand to hold on something u(gerry)answered and i quote:”F*** Off am not her to enjoy myself”,,,well this said Gerry just shows how sellfish u are and how much of a coward u are,,k,,so for all that in my opinion the McCanns have ”killed” madeleine……………..am sorry Madeleine.
Sep 4, 2010 at 05:58:26
the mccanns – how do they keep getting away with all the lies ? – there is no sense in anything they say they contradict themselves – their friends dont want to help search for madeline – – stories about david payne being a pedo and a nasty onversation overheard when speaking with gerry
blood in the apartment time lines all wrong leaving there kids alone sitting on the bed were there child has just been abducted from – windows closed and statements that dont add up – call them for what they are the murdering parents of madeline mccann – extradite them charge them and punish them for their crimes
they must have friends in high places to protect them if the whole sorry mess wasnt so sad that a little girl has died then they would be made laughing stocks
Sep 10, 2010 at 12:33:02
I don’t believe that is truth story of the missing Madeleine from 3rd May 2007. Why PJ should give evidence, where is buried Madeleine? That not suit to parents of lovely daughter and everything could be different. If you look, how many death scents is from Madeleine or someone else from holiday flat 5A is question, why PJ didn’t find any evidence.
Look for example in Google website about Azaria Chambrlein who has disappeared on 17th of August 1980 and the Australian police give wrong direction and charged her mother Lindy Chamberlain of murder, she was sentenced to life imprisonment with hard labour. After many years she was released from jail, but of wrong investigation she had different opinion about justice, she was also remarried again. The fool story could be read on wikipedia or the Google. All evils are created by ignorance therefor we should ask, does PJ in Portimão wants really investigate the truth of Madeleine?
Oct 6, 2010 at 12:53:14
i cannot believe that anyone couldnt see the weight of evidence that madeline was killed /died in the apartment cadavar dogs DNA – evidence the bizarre behaviour –
Azaria Chamberlian is another matter the forensic s were stuffed and i think her name is Joy Khul was later found to have got all the forensic stuff wrong about fetal blood in the car – remeber this was a long time ago 30 years – DNA and forensics werenot as advanced – but here is a question about azaria – How did the dingo get the baby out of her onepiece jumpsuit with all the studs still done up and the matineee jacket off the baby – they never found the nappy or the bootees but found a jumpsuit all the studs still done up ? i dont think a dingo could actually do that – anybody who has had chil;dren in those bonds all in one things knows its impossible – and no dingo removed that child from that jumpsuit – –
madeline mccann there are so many things that dont add up try climbing out a 6 foot high window between two cots carrying a sleeping child – impossible – 2 toddlers sleeping through the police coming in and out of the apartment and lights being turned on and off and they dont wake until they get to the new apartment – so they have been put in and out of cars etc – – impossible
the timeline – impossible
the wearing of holiday clothes when dealing with 6 dead bodies the week before going on holidays- impossible
the whole MCANN SENARIO IS IMPOSSIBLE
Dec 26, 2010 at 14:49:15
If, and only if, the children were medicated so they wouldn’t wake up…the McCanns should go to prison for this and for leaving three young children unsupervised. If they weren’t medics and were cleaners at least one of them would now be in prison.
Britain is a most unequal society of private health and private education and a bias legal system.
Of course it is possible that someone saw them dumping their kids each night and sold one of them. It is possible the mother hit her daughter or when they were out boozing it up Maddie fell down the stairs in her doped state. Whatever the truth, the MacCanns should have been prosecuted for child abuse.
May 2, 2011 at 18:36:14
i dont know what to believe, a holiday is for a whole family, you wouldnt leave your kids in an apartment whilst you ate you would take them with you, but i dont know why her mum washed maddies prised possesion? we need to find out the truth poor maddie didnt/dont deserve this.
May 12, 2011 at 11:02:57
The dogs in questyion have never been wrong and the odds of them being wrong in this case are negligible. The behaviour of the McCanns were strnge to say the least. The testimony, frequently changed and amended by Jane Tanner no longer has any credibility.
I am alarmed at the comments made inferring paedophilia. This should have been and should be investigated further by the British authorities. The comments made were sickening and no sound minded person would ever have made them.
I am and always have been struck by the lack of emotion displayed by the Mcanns. Their answers appear rehearsed and he seems to control her tightly with regards to ensuring she does not say anything if possible.
I don’t know what happened to Madeleine, but what I do feel is the version of events given by the McCanns and the Tapas 7 just do not add up.
The truth is and always remains the truth so there should be 1 story and 1 story only. Not the numerous versions given by the McCanns and their friends.
Something sinister cuts to the heart of this case and I believe it stems from within not from without.
May 12, 2011 at 11:07:38
One further point. If the McCanns and ‘Tapas 7′ would all take lie detector tests, it would either clear their name and enbolden the public to search for Madeleine as an abductee, or it would show them to be liars and therefore warrant further investigation.
If I were innocent, I would not have to be asked to take a lie detector test, I would volunteer and would have done so immediately following Madeleines disappearance.
May 12, 2011 at 22:32:07
It’s laughable that they think people believe their lies. They’re guilty as sin and the whole world knows it. I think their motive was MONEY… travel insurance pays at least £1m for kidnapping!
I bet little Madeline miraculously turns up in the next two years, as after that she can be legally declared dead.
May 13, 2011 at 00:17:20
Isn’t it true Madeleine was not the biological daughter of Dr. Gerry; Isn’t it also true she was born in Holland under a heatedly contested contract? Isn’t it also true the McCann’s and connections exercise political heavy weight in their home area. Isn’t it also true, good upstanding Catholics should not be “dabbling” in Scottish Freemasonry in their home village? And, isn’t also true Madeleine disappeared on a special holiday for the truly wicked–same as, JonBenet? Lots of trips to Malta by the family, the special uncle and a special group of persons. This case is very similar to JonBenet’s disappearance and death. Glaringly so.
May 21, 2011 at 00:18:40
To stop all this debate ask them to take a lie detector test which they promised they would .Oh they now refused to do it what a surprise
May 22, 2011 at 09:40:14
They should be arrested and made to take a lie detector test, …. and now she writes a book to make even more money! This whole thing is a fiasco, and a money making exercise…. and the UK police and public are buying their story and lies…
They are guilty and should be prosecuted for neglect and abandonment at the very least.
May 22, 2011 at 12:09:14
i thnk that is a sin because hw cn u kill ur own child then lie about it that u never kill the chil.these people should be locked in jail.the key should be throw away!!!!
Jun 7, 2011 at 15:40:50
the patio doors wer open and the apartment was the las row leadin staight to the road so no need to climb upn givin kisd sedetives??? Tht poor little girl if she was abducted she wunt have even known til mornin her self bless her. N dogs smellin death .. Yea tht duz mek me wunder i personaly dnt no wat to bleive. Missin or killed by parents or stranger.. Theyl hav to liv with this forever..
Jul 12, 2011 at 17:18:22
First thing first. What f**king sort of parents would leave a 3 year old girl alone at home? Why the f**k would you do that whilst you go out eating food and kate mccane you f**king know that its all your fault hope that you feel pain all your f**king life! and anyway if you would f**king go out to a resturant you would shut the f**king front door mrs mccane! and then yu f**king come back from your lovely night out and you see your f**king daughter gone missing when you come back1 Mrs and Mr Mccane You f**king set your own f**king child up you f**king twats! you f**king leave then call someone this is what really happened! dialling number hello this mrs mccane me and my husband have left the front door open madeilline is asleep make sure no one heres you pushing her down the stairs when you do it shut the gate and take her body and dump it in the sea ok mrs mccane whatever you say! whilst her f**king gay ass mothef**king parnets are having a lovely time they come back child dead and gone! next month f**k this garry ill tell you the truth about this! i set this up for madelinne we have to escape otherewise ill get put to jail come lets get out of here we’ll catch the plane to england tomorrow honey now lets go to bed.
Jul 29, 2011 at 08:28:07
parents are the ones to blame, who would leave there child unsupervised at that age eve with a younger child at that age. Lets pray that they find maddi alive…
Jul 29, 2011 at 10:05:59
I think that the newspapers are blowing it all out of proportion, i don’t think they killed there daughter, the polioce are shit! they know nothing:L
Aug 13, 2011 at 22:41:46
they are guilty as sin,i also think she fell down stairs and both being doctors that would never do as that poor little mite was so drugged up to keep them quite it would have all come out so being doctors they new how to get rid of body, kate is as cold as a fish no feelings all they are intested in is make more money keeping this story going is making them richer and richer, but on day the truth will come out some one will spill the beans and i hope they both go down for the rest of their days they should be ashamed off themselfs
Sep 5, 2011 at 17:22:28
This is just so so sad…….whether the parents killed her or not, i still feel they are to blame, i have 3 children, 8, 4 and 1 and would never ever in a million years leave them on there own. How can any parent leave there kids while they drink and eat with there friends, its just wrong, and very sad, and i feel there responsible. If she wasent left on her own she would never of been abducted. I still believe that the parents arnt telling the truth about something. very very strange.This will haunt them, and stay with them forever. poor maddy, such a beautiful little girl bless her. my heart is with you sweetie. god bless.
Mr and Mrs Mcann should be sent to prision for child neglect. And the twins should be taken off them, as they quite clearly are not responsible parents to leave a child, therefore there twins are at great risk.
Sep 27, 2011 at 09:49:53
There are clear arguments on both sides, one thing does not add up on the abduction theory – and that is the ‘window’ yet there are many other factors that could implicate Murat, his wife, her ex husband and Sergey Malinka, there are way too many ‘coincidences’ regarding these people, but maybe that is the way it is.
The cadaver dogs test was a little too staged for my liking, why was Eddie allowed to run around 5A for 7 minutes before barking when he was only in the other apartments for 3/4 minutes with a negative result? Something is just not quite right with either angle, but so far with what I have seen there is more ‘probable evidence’ of an abduction even though the McCann’s do appear do react odd at times, but we have nothing in which to compare their behaviour too as this is a rare case.
Dec 8, 2011 at 00:24:03
The McCanns have woven a hell of a tangled web. To my mind I am 80% sure that they killed their daughter themselves, and 100% sure that they know exactly what happened, and where her body was disposed of. Even if Madeleine did not die at their hands, they are still responsible for appalling neglect of care. Such people do not deserve the privilege of being parents.
And the circus that they have orchestrated since defies belief. I just hope that either the authorities find the body and solid proof of what occurred, or that the parents somehow come to their senses and do the right thing and fess up.
Dec 21, 2011 at 13:24:59
Everything is just too wishy washy with the case, if the parents are so innocent as they say, they should be willing to take a lie detector test to prove their innocence and stop people like us suspecting. In my mind, why take the children on holiday if they was just going to leave them in an unlocked hotel at night, should have left them at home with family. And now a poor girl is now just a name in a very mysterious case.
Jan 17, 2012 at 22:10:18
that is what i don’t get if they fake her kidnapping they’re getting a long sentance for that aren’t they so they’re scared of going to jail for manslaughter but they’re doing time for faking a kidnapping aren’t they?