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Madeleine McCann: New Image Released As Detectives Say She Could Still Be Alive

Posted: 25/04/2012 11:06 Updated: 25/04/2012 12:36

Met police officers reviewing the disappearance of Madeleine McCann have released an image of the missing child as she may look on her ninth birthday.

Detectives have said they have found 195 "investigative opportunities" in the ongoing search for Madeleine McCann and urged Portuguese authorities to reopen the case.

In a statement on the Met Police website, they say they now believe there is a possibility Madeleine is still alive and are appealing for anyone who is able to provide direct information as to her whereabouts to contact the team.

The new image has been created in close collaboration with the family and is being released ahead of the fifth anniversary of her disappearance on 3 May.

Investigating officers in the review team are working their way methodically through 100,000 pages of evidence on the Madeleine McCann case.

Their aim is to get Portugese authorities to re-open the Madeleine McCann case, as it has been closed since 2008.

DCI Andy Redwood, who is leading the investigation said: “From the outset we have approached this review with a completely open mind, placing Madeleine McCann at the heart of everything we do.

"We are working on the basis of two possibilities here. One is that Madeleine is still alive; and the second that she is sadly dead.

“Based on the former we are releasing the age progression image today with a specific appeal.

“If you were either on holiday or in residence in the resort during this period, particularly in the vicinity of the Ocean Club, and you have not been spoken to by police either here or in Portugal then please call us on 0800 0961011 if you are within the UK.

"The number for non-UK residents is +44 2071580 126. Alternatively if you do not want to speak to us directly you can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”


Madeleine McCann, as she is thought to look now, aged 9

Loading Slideshow...

  • Girl missing in Algarve

    An undated photo of Madeleine McCann from the Official Find Madeleine Campaign Facebook page.

  • Girl missing in Algarve

    A photo of Madeleine McCann that was taken when she was 3 years old.

  • Girl missing in Algarve

    Kate McCann looks at an inflatable News of the World poster of missing daughter Madeleine measuring approx 800sq ft on the beach in Praia Da Luz, Portugal.

  • Girl missing in Algarve

    Kate McCann, mother of missing Madeleine, during the recording of a television interview for the spanish television show "Los Mas Buscados" with images of Madeleine on a large TV screen behind her, in the Hotel Villa Magna in Madrid.

  • Girl missing in Algarve

    The GPR image that Stephen Birch believes shows a grave.

  • Missing girl in Algarve

    A photo of the May 15, 2007 search of the property in Praia da Luz where Stephen Birch believes he found a grave. The black box indicates the rubble pile he claims police never searched.

  • Girl missing in Algarve

    An October 2007 photo of the same location. Stephen Birch said this photo indicates the rubble pile had not been touched during the May 2007 search.

  • Missing girl in Algarve

    An overlay of the two photos.

  • Girl missing in Algarve

    An undated photo of Madeleine McCann from the Official Find Madeleine Campaign Facebook page.

  • Missing Madeleine McCann

    Kate and Gerry McCann in Quorn, Leicestershire, as they launch a petition to lobby the UK and Portuguese governments for a joint or independent review over their daughter Madeleine's disappearance.

  • Girl missing in Algarve

    Kate McCann, mother of missing girl Madeleine McCann leaves the village chruch in Praia Da Luz on the Algarve, Portugal, following a service.

  • Girl missing in Algarve

    An undated photo of Madeleine McCann from the Official Find Madeleine Campaign Facebook page.

  • Girl missing in Algarve

    Kate McCann leaves a church service in Praia Da Luz, Portugal, 2 weeks after Madeleine McCann went missing on the evening of Thursday May 3.

  • Girl missing in Algarve

    An undated photo of Madeleine McCann from the Official Find Madeleine Campaign Facebook page.

  • Missing Madeleine McCann

    Kate and Gerry McCann give a press conference in central London on their newly published book 'Madeleine' about their daughter's disappearance in 2007.

  • Girl missing in Algarve

    Business card sized leaflets showing missing girl Madeleine McCann, which were handed out to fans during the Espanyol v Sevilla Uefa Cup final at Hampden Park in Glasgow.

  • Missing girl in Algarve

    Kate McCann leaves the special service for the 100th day of Madeleine McCann's disappearance at the local church in Praia Du Luz, Portugal.

  • Girl missing in Algarve

    Kate and Gerry McCann make an appeal for their three year old Madeleine's return.

  • Girl missing in Algarve

    An undated photo of Madeleine McCann from the Official Find Madeleine Campaign Facebook page.

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Met police officers reviewing the disappearance of Madeleine McCann have released an image of the missing child as she may look on her ninth birthday. Detectives have said they have found 195 "inve...
Met police officers reviewing the disappearance of Madeleine McCann have released an image of the missing child as she may look on her ninth birthday. Detectives have said they have found 195 "inve...
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mzbecc
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123 Fans
 
08:39 PM on 04/26/2012
Cadaver dogs have no reason to lie.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
nottonguetied
24 Fans
07:00 PM on 04/26/2012
NO EVIDENCE FOR THE ABDUCTION CLAIM AND ANYBODY CAN CLAIM TO BE A FRIEND!
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nottonguetied
24 Fans
06:51 PM on 04/26/2012
the public continues to be played by the system involved in covering up the real story.
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Southern law girl
Researching my viewpoint....
160 Fans
08:15 PM on 04/26/2012
What makes you think that? Thanks!
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Zurichilux
A liberal conservative controversialist
175 Fans
02:01 PM on 04/26/2012
Are these two public sector workers? If so, that would explain their expecting the public to pick up all the pieces and treat them like royalty. Dont allow your kids to go missing next time.
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mrsraisasharpe
121 Fans
02:23 PM on 04/26/2012
Another overpaid public sector worker called David Cameron authorised the wasting of millions of pounds of public money on this self-indulgent and (no doubt) ultimately futile wild goose chase.
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pete cole
174 Fans
02:55 PM on 04/26/2012
You do not care one iota for the child do you? This is now an opportunity for you to air grievances about politicians and public sector workers.
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Southern law girl
Researching my viewpoint....
160 Fans
05:27 PM on 04/26/2012
Good afternoon mrs raisasharpe

For me, the thing is this. Each year we hear about many children going missing, but does everyone have the same attention these people get, the answer is no. I have deepest sympathy for anyone who loses a child, of course I do, but I just wonder how parents who've lost children feel, when they see all the attention and investigations by large numbers of our police force, and rightly as you say, public money being spent on this family whose child didn't even go missing in this Country. Sounds hard, maybe, but to be honest too much attention, especially whilst there are still many children missing from all over this Country. I have always said, to leave children of that age on their own whilst enjoying a meal in a restaurant is unbelievable.

Best wishes!
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pete cole
174 Fans
02:32 PM on 04/26/2012
What a pathetic remark
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ymaddocks
0 Fans
09:09 AM on 04/26/2012
I recall, at the time of Madeleine's disappearance, Kate went out jogging and Gerry continued with his tennis lessons whilst everyone else was out combing the streets for their daughter - the one they so carelessly left home alone (with two younger siblings) My heart goes out to poor Madeleine who was let down so badly by her parents and their friends, who, none of which could give an accurate account of what actually happened that night. It seems to me that Mr & Mrs McCann only appear to make a noise about the whole sorry affair when the funds are running low again.
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pete cole
174 Fans
09:43 AM on 04/26/2012
What do you expect them to do?
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Zurichilux
A liberal conservative controversialist
175 Fans
01:58 PM on 04/26/2012
grieve over their child's disappearance?
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mrsraisasharpe
121 Fans
02:27 PM on 04/26/2012
Are you sure she was 'left home alone (with two younger siblings)?
Some people believe the 'two younger siblings' were 'left home alone' without Madeleine.
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pete cole
174 Fans
02:38 PM on 04/26/2012
The Portuguese police and the Met don't.
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nottonguetied
24 Fans
06:53 PM on 04/26/2012
Are you sure she was 'left home alone (with two younger siblings)?
Some people believe the 'two younger siblings' were 'left home alone' without Madeleine.

yes indeed the public should and must question official account none of which has been verified as true and fact!
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eim0904
0 Fans
12:16 AM on 04/26/2012
Gerry McCann a number of years ago participated in saveing my mothers life when he was a young doctor in Glasgow and during this very intense time in my family's life he never once allowed us to give up he always gave us HOPE and i would like to give that hope back to Mr and Mrs McCann and to say them NEVER GIVE UP AND NEVER GIVE UP ON HOPE and as the years go by HOPE never will I Wish yous all the hope in the world
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nottonguetied
24 Fans
06:57 PM on 04/26/2012
Gerry McCann a number of years ago participated in saveing my mothers life when he was a young doctor in Glasgow and during this very intense time in my family's life he never once allowed us to give up he always gave us HOPE and i would like to give that hope back to Mr and Mrs McCann and to say them NEVER GIVE UP AND NEVER GIVE UP ON HOPE and as the years go by HOPE never will I Wish yous all the hope in the world

shame the McCanns gave up on Maddy .. the twins were also repeatedly put at risk?
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eim0904
0 Fans
09:58 PM on 04/26/2012
The McCanns have Never given up on Maddy and hope will never give up on Maddy
It sounds as if you have !! We all make misstakes in our lives and we are not all perefct and I am definately not perefct ARE YOU ??
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jmmcmkn
213 Fans
09:17 PM on 04/25/2012
Thats got to be the worst photo fit ever, it looks like the offspring of a union between Terry Nutkins and Clive Anderson.
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lokiesteve
72 Fans
08:29 PM on 04/25/2012
I heard a comedian once say that the British don't like their children until they go missing. So very true, I'm surprised the McCanns didn't get prosecuted for child neglect.
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meganclaire
1 Fans
06:49 PM on 04/25/2012
As a friend of Gerry and Kate's, I'm tired of people slagging them off. Just leave them alone already. Are you a perfect parent? Have you EVER done something that could have put your child in danger and didn't realize it until afterwards? They made a mistake! Anyone blaming them for Madeleine's abduction is absolving the real criminal. That person is still at large and they could strike again and most likely have. It's the incompetent police in Portugal who should be looked at and scrutinized. If you cannot say anything nice, please just leave them alone and let the rest of us get on with trying to find Madeleine.
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Altern8
9 Fans
07:27 PM on 04/25/2012
Exactly what I was thinking.
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Openess4all
110 Fans
08:21 PM on 04/25/2012
Everyone who's actions contributed to the abduction of Madeline should be held to account, the abductors and anyone else!
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pete cole
174 Fans
08:44 PM on 04/25/2012
but as it stands the only one(s) who don't get blamed is the abductor(s)
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hbarbie
0 Fans
06:25 PM on 04/25/2012
So much judgement from everyone!. How on earth can we pass comment on the police, Madeleine's parents or anyone else involved? They have suffered horribly, nobody deserves that - they deserve our sympathy, our compassion and our restraint.

The fact that people think its reasonable and fair to make so broadly public such slurs on the character of people they dont know, about a case they know little about says more about those people than it does about the McCanns.

All the McCanns have done to deserve this attention is to suffer a horrible crime. And the comments on here just add to their suffering. Im deeply saddened that comments posted online can be so hurtful. There's a real person reading this stuff you know.

I have nothing but admiration for a parent who can even keep going when something as awful as this happens.
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Tootrue3
0 Fans
10:43 PM on 04/25/2012
Well said hbarbie!
Although I have never left mine alone I could never condemn the McCanns for leaving their children in what was/should have been a safe place to sleep, this should be a given.
They were lulled into a sense of security when their friends did exactly the same and checked on their children regularly. The only thing they are guilty of is being naieve (is that a bed thing?) and they pay for this every day.
At the end of the day it's their love for Madeleine that keeps them fighting for answers. I think of them often and my heart goes out to them.
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effron123
0 Fans
09:11 PM on 04/26/2012
A real mother is not lulled into a false sense of security, a real mum wouldnt of allowed to happen what supposedly happened that night
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nottonguetied
24 Fans
07:03 PM on 04/26/2012
So much judgement from everyone!. How on earth can we pass comment on the police, Madeleine's parents or anyone else involved? They have suffered horribly, nobody deserves that - they deserve our sympathy, our compassion and our restraint.

The fact that people think its reasonable and fair to make so broadly public such slurs on the character of people they dont know, about a case they know little about says more about those people than it does about the McCanns.

All the McCanns have done to deserve this attention is to suffer a horrible crime. And the comments on here just add to their suffering. Im deeply saddened that comments posted online can be so hurtful. There's a real person reading this stuff you know.

I have nothing but admiration for a parent who can even keep going when something as awful as this happens.

WHAT ABOUT THE CHILD VICTIMS IN THIS CASE?
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hbarbie
0 Fans
05:02 PM on 04/27/2012
You're right - have deep sympathy for the victims, Madeleine and her brother and sister have all suffered terribly and needlessly. My point, however, relates to the online criticism, judgment, accusation and abuse.

I just think we shouldnt pass any judgment without hard evidence (and if someone has evidence, this is not the right place for it), and we shouldn't post abuse online at all.
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Kevan Parker
8 Fans
05:55 PM on 04/25/2012
Let's face facts the Police are being offered a Jolly to Portugal on a plate! A holiday for senior police officers in the sun. Days after poor Madeline disappeared there was a documentary on Channel Four or Five which was fronted by some retired police officers that stated a major flaw in the police, operation which was that. The large wheellie bins used by shops and restaurants were emptied into a lorry which was emptied into a barge which was emptied into the sea, the morning after the incident! need I continue just who killed her needs to be comfirmed!
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nottonguetied
24 Fans
07:04 PM on 04/26/2012
Let's face facts the Police are being offered a Jolly to Portugal on a plate! A holiday for senior police officers in the sun. Days after poor Madeline disappeared there was a documentary on Channel Four or Five which was fronted by some retired police officers that stated a major flaw in the police, operation which was that. The large wheellie bins used by shops and restaurants were emptied into a lorry which was emptied into a barge which was emptied into the sea, the morning after the incident! need I continue just who killed her needs to be comfirmed!

YES INDEED!
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Singh2012
8 Fans
05:42 PM on 04/25/2012
I have read a lot of stuff on the net about how irresponsible the parents were and that there is a lot of evidencee suggesting that they could have covered an accidental death up. Dog scenting death in a cra in the room on the parents clothing. A family from Ireland eye witnessening the father carrying the child away at the time. All of the group refusing to cooperate in a a reconstruction.

Has any of this been examined in a documentary or answered by the Mcanns?
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pete cole
174 Fans
08:13 AM on 04/26/2012
The police ask the questions and do the examining so if you know all this don't you think the police do? or if you know something they don't I'm sure they'd be glad to hear from you.
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nottonguetied
24 Fans
08:24 PM on 04/26/2012
The police ask the questions and do the examining so if you know all this don't you think the police do? or if you know something they don't I'm sure they'd be glad to hear from you.

the police are NOT beyond corruption and lies and coverup
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nottonguetied
24 Fans
07:05 PM on 04/26/2012
I have read a lot of stuff on the net about how irresponsible the parents were and that there is a lot of evidencee suggesting that they could have covered an accidental death up. Dog scenting death in a cra in the room on the parents clothing. A family from Ireland eye witnessening the father carrying the child away at the time. All of the group refusing to cooperate in a a reconstruction.

Has any of this been examined in a documentary or answered by the Mcanns?

NO! THIS IS A "ROYAL" CASE!
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Jene88
303 Fans
03:54 PM on 04/25/2012
Someone else commented that it's not unusual in places other than America to leave the children/child alone. Here in America, children are abducted in the home, with parents there, while they sleep. So, not only should we not leave the children alone here, we should carefully lock all our doors and windows. It's not surprising now to hear of an intruder snatch the child in her bedroom, here. The parents weren't far from the children, and it's rarer in Europe to hear of child abductions than it is here in the USA.
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marianproletarian
1046 Fans
05:29 PM on 04/25/2012
I don't believe that's true. Children are abducted everywhere.
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leeguv
11 Fans
05:37 PM on 04/25/2012
What we hear about is really determined by our media infrastructure. For example, you are more likely to hear about child abductions in the United States because you have the AMBER alert system (a voluntary partnership between law-enforcement agencies, broadcasters, transportation agencies, and the wireless industry, to activate urgent bulletins when suspected child-abduction occurs). We have no such system in the United Kingdom or Europe.
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