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Gerry McCann told press
that there is no evidence in the police files that
suggests Madeleine has been
seriously harmed Photo: PORTUGALIMAGES.NET |
A SUMMARY by police in February 2008 reveals, for the first time,
that there were only two possible causes, in their opinion, that
could account for the disappearance of Madeleine McCann.
The report, written on February 5 by investigators, concludes that
by analysing the evidence up to that point, police felt that
Madeleine was kidnapped or killed, either accidentally or
deliberately, and continues to give detailed reasons as to why these
conclusions have been drawn.
The possibility of kidnap is taken from evidence including the
statement made by Kate describing windows in the apartment being
open that were not open earlier.
The testimony by Jane Tanner is also taken into account and her
statement describing an individual carrying a child in their arms at
9.15pm adds to this theory. Police files reveal that the alternative
explanation for Madeleine's disappearance is that she died in the
apartment and her body was then removed.
The summary states that the specialist British police dog, Eddie,
detected the smell of a dead body in the apartment near the window
and behind the sofa.
The dog also detected signs of a body in the Renault car hired by
the McCanns and in other areas in and around the apartment used by
the McCanns. Keela, the dog used to detect the smell of human blood,
is reported in the files as finding the smell of blood in the
sitting room of the apartment, adding to the suspicions by the
police that Madeleine died in the apartment.
At no point in the summary is anyone specifically accused of killing
or kidnapping Madeleine.
In July 2007 Mark Harrison MBE of the National Policing Improvement
Agency (NPIA) made a report to the Portuguese police stating that in
his opinion: ?Police have concentrated on finding Madeleine alive,
they now need to start to consider other options and the possibility
that she has been killed and her body hidden.?
Mark Harrison assessed the Portuguese investigation between May and
July and recommended that areas should be searched again but using
dogs that detect blood and dead bodies.
The McCanns have countered the reports from the police files and
have pledged to continue to look for their daughter. Gerry McCann
told press: ?The content of these files has been extensively
reported. It will be clear to everyone now that there is
absolutely no evidence that suggests Madeleine has been seriously
harmed, we strongly believe that Madeleine is out there and can be
found.?
Meanwhile, it has been revealed that the McCanns have hired a new
detective agency to help in the search for their daughter. The
unnamed US firm reportedly uses former members of the FBI and CIA.
Clarence Mitchell confirmed: ?It is correct that an international
firm of investigators has been appointed. I am unable to say
anything about them because of the covert nature of their work?.
Metodo 3, the Spanish private investigators used by the McCanns, are
still involved in the case but are dealing with leads in Iberia and
northern Africa while the new team will be looking at international
leads.
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