Madeleine Was Here
The documentary reconstructs events surrounding Madeleine's disappearance using actors and based on testimony given to the Portuguese police as part of their investigations.
How do the McCanns deal with the pain of not knowing what has happened to their daughter? And how do they try to create a normal life for the sake of Madeleine's brother and sister, four-year-old twins Sean and Amelie?
With the search now shelved by the Portuguese police - and no officers in Portugal or the UK dedicated to the case - the investigators (former police officers from the UK) speak about their interest in a series of important sightings in and around the Ocean Club complex, Praia da Luz, in the days leading up to May 3rd 2007.
For the first time, Gerry McCann returns to Apartment 5a of the Ocean Club complex, where he last saw his daughter. Also returning to Portugal are Jane Tanner and Matthew Oldfield, two friends from the group known as the Tapas 7, who were on holiday with the McCanns at the time.
just an aside, and primarily to Hilary LInton, (i believe that is the name) No in fact there was not a straight and clear line of site between their apartment and the area where the families were dining....it was very obscured, in fact. I suspect the point here is this, there were on site baby sitting services provided by the resort, why take the chance?
One of the primary comments i would like to make is this...There is such a huge discrepancy, as one woukld expect for their to be, in how Nations react to this kind of story....I remember vividly that here in the United States, within three days of this dear childs disappearence, the talk was widely that the parents were involved. It seems that that was so far from the minds of the European authorities that is is absurd to most Americans. It is strange to me that they were not first among the suspects. At least an investigation to clear the parents, lie detector test...a basic cursory questioning. Perhaps it is just because i am a "jaded" American, it just seems absurd that this did not happen...Especially because their stories changed several times.
Greg Mc comment says it all.
There is no excuse for leaving 3 small children alone in an apartment/home (foreign country or not), whilst you are having dinner and drinks in a nearby restaurant. Checking on them every 30 minutes is an even bigger joke...and then letting a friend carry out one of the checks (which he did poorly)...
Leaving the patio door open! but locking the main door?? Logic?...
What about hiring a babysitter?...or better still one parent stays home! Not end of the world...but this situation did end their world!
Too many parents have kids (no one forces them to) ...but fail to take on the personal sacrifices needed to keep them safe. No excuses here...a child is going through hell (or was) because her parents thought their need for social stimulation was not up for compromise.
My daughter was abducted in 1991 i have finally found her she is in cairo i will be getting reunited after all these painful years
I can't leave the house without wondering if I really did turn off the stove; these two enjoyed drinks and dinner while their kids were left alone - does not compute.
Why no mention in media now.?
This documentary is pure propaganda, told solely from the point of view of the parents.
Someone needs to make a balanced documentary presenting the parents' story vs the conclusions of Goncalo Amaral and Pat Brown's analysis. Unfortunately this will probably never happen, because the McCann's legal team will silence anyone who dares question the parents' version of events.
It's impossible to feel sympathy for this couple. I don't want to call them parents because I think they are despicable for leaving their children unattended. It's just unforgivable and I feel they got what they deserved. The poor child never had a chance. They may as well have put her on a turkey platter and served her up to the abductor.
I am a single parent and brought my two children on holiday. I did not leave them out of my sight for a single minute, let alone go dine away from my apartment and leave them asleep alone! At the very least, this couple are guilty of making this holiday about THEM and their FRIENDS (to the detriment of one of their children).....that is not to say they should not enjoy themselves but they should have ensured their children's safety before going out for an evening with friends to enjoy themselves.
Just to give this another point of fact.....if this were a single parent who had left her kids unattended while she/he dined with friends, I feel I would be correct in thinking they would be facing charges of child neglect. In my opinion this checking every 20 mins by various friends and the parents probably did not happen. If a group were going out and knew they were going to have such concerns over the safety of their children, surely the childminding facility (which was available) would be the most logical choice for them?
All this judgement that falls on these poor parents who are constantly used by other parents who need to tell the world how perfect they are! I don't agree with the fact that Kate and Gerry left their kids alone, but that error of judgement is nothing like as serious as the crime this abductor has committed. Where is the outrage over the real crime? This man will strike again, and next time he could take a child straight out of the home of one of these 'perfect' parents, who will then be condemned for not sitting by their child's bedside all night. For God's sake people, this is not the platform for vitriol and self congratulation. Next time to turn your back on your children for a second in shopping centre- Shame on You!
Very fishy, not just the remains of the child, but the very bizarre parents.
Dear baby, every time I see you face,I want to cry. May God grant you justice in the end.
Assuming that one of the parents (both?) did it. When would they have had the time to kill Maddie and hide her?
Her mother didn´t shed a tear! It´s IMPOSSIBLE.
Oh man... how can you beliece them? I am Portuguese. I followed this case everyday. Our Intelligence services believe that she was killed by their parents... Just look at who are their relatives... and the power they have in England. Wake up. She wasn´t abducted... she was killed either by accident (what kind of paren drugs his children) or murdered.
My Opinion:
Its easy to point fingers when something happens to a child, 'they should never do this', 'I always do that'. If we thought about it, we have ALL been careless and put our child in a precarious situation! My only child passed away suddenly this year at 22, my beautiful boy. I remember him as a toddler asleep in the car while I ran in the corner store. I could see the car the whole time, BUT had someone taken him, the fingers would be pointed at me. I'm sure that is not the only mistake I made. We choose to condemn others out of the UNFATHOMABLE FEAR that it actually could be our baby, and we are not perfect parents! Only when we are truly honest do we say, 'there but for the grace of God, go I"...
I never understand why they involved the press so much.. If the kidnapper had Maddie, he would probably get rid of the evidence of her existance BECAUSE the media has spread her picture across the globe. And if they let her leave, then there is the posibility she would tell on them..
This is what happens when you leave a 3 year old all alone. Now I hear the parents also are having a million dollar world tour and published a book on how hard life is?? Why not use the money to fund a big search?? Sure doesn't seem like they care!! It looks like the best thing that happened to them was poor Maddies kidnapping... This whole thing maked me Sick.
Watching this I really did not get a good feeling for the parents. I wonder if they have undergone hypnosis (to see if they are hiding something) or if they refused such a step. This could clear some of the skeptics. Unfortunatelly I'm one of them.
they show no emotion, any inocent parent would be in bits especially seeing what their child would look like today. They keep up this cherade of'lets find madeline' just as a cover in my opinion. they have guilt written all over their faces, i feel bad for madeline and what happened she had no say over it, the parents drugged their kids so they can go and enjoy a meal and drinks with their friends, what kind of parent does that? If they was working class parents then the tabloids would smear their names and the whole country would dispise them. The Mccans need locking up for neglegence
Meh... Starting with a double-post. That down there was me.
They were both doctors, they wanted to have fun... They figured a doctor's way to leave the kids alone and have no problem with them waking up. They dozed the kids asleep... Heart or respiratory failure. The rest was just panic and all the show, damage-control. Even if it not happen exactly like that, which probably has, they should have faced the consequences of their abandoning the kids alone.
I don't have kids of my own... But as many commentators pointed out, although some would follow their footsteps, no parent leaves a baby unatended... no matter how close they leave, fact is they left.
uhhhhh hellllo! the mother if not both parents had sumthin to do with her dissaperance
not watched this yet and may not as living in uk there was constant news stories and tv shows for a fair while after it happened.
not 100% sure but seem to recall something about the children being given valium by the parents to be sure they would be safe!!
they would know about doses for that age, i guess, being doctors?!?!
Az and Greg: The geese would go outside on the side of house. Crime spikes right before Christmas here (gotta get presents for the kids, ya know, so rob someone---seriously). Our neighbors lactating unchained bi*ch clames our house has her own too and even sleeps on our porch sometimes. Barks at every footstep, so a dog with pups until Chirstmas is fantastic! Never barks even once in the day, but is great at night.
I already saved one neighbor from a "sneaky theif" that was stealing their entire dog fence (while the dog was away)--in the middle of the day (for the metal), so we do watch out for eachother here.
Jada: You're being a bit heartless! I might have done exactly has they did in their situation. A momentary lapse in judgment was all it was.
Last thought: I think the baby is still alive. If they were wanting to molest a child, why not take the other girl too? They wanted the girl as their own--(or to sell) I think they'll find her someday.
I have no sympathy! Except for the child that is. Clearly it doesnt take much brains to figure out that if you leave young children home alone something very bad may happen as a consequence! They are two well educated adults and clearly extremely selfish too, what kind of caring parent would leave young children to go and socialize and have fun? If thats the kind of life they wanted with no responsibilities on holiday they should have thought twice about having children or left them with someone caring at least.
What makes me sick is that because of their social status they have been treated as if they are fit parents who were nieve when the story itself shows what idiots they are! If this happened to a working class family from a poor background the fingers would have been pointed and blame placed completely on bad parenting with any other children being removed into the care of social services as a result.
The fact of the matter is that they made a selfish and ridiculous mistake that can not be fixed and I can not understand what kind of person would do such and thing neither do I want to.
@C
Good idea having people think you have a gun, it may scare some potential problems away. Being Canadian we generally dont feel the same way many Americans do about guns, I know one person who has guns in his house that are for hunting although I have never known him to go hunting but he said he used to when he was younger and thats why he has them. He says one day he wants to take my son and I out to shoot one, I have never shot a gun before so I am a little curious but at the same time I dont really have an interest in doing it. Americans have it in their constitution that they have the right to bear arms (In Canada we have the right to bare arms but that is a ittle different I think) so it is part of their culture, in the country here (which is area wise most of Canada, but population wise most people live in concentrated areas in the southern parts of the country) or rural areas where most of the farms are (and thank god for the farmers who give us our food but barely survive finacially with no real help from our Government) guns are more common and a necessary part of life. But for a suburban schmuck like me there is no need to have a gun, by having a gun and thinking about the things that may come about from it being around I can think of one positive and that would be shooting someone who broke into my house and tried to harm my family. The chances of that happening are almost zero, and if it did happen unless the guy was in the act of actually hurting my son I would more than likely freeze up (possibly piss myself lol) have the gun taken off me and then the bad guy might shoot us all. Anything else I can think of happening with a gun in the house does not have a good outcome.
Now I dont want any pro gun people jumping all over me about safe storage and other reasons for having guns, if you like guns (and yes I do see the appeal of them, I dont get hunting but I do get the target shooting part of it being a lot of fun and if I ever tried it I may like it. Maybe only as a one time thing but it does look fun and I woud keep my gun stored at the range or wherever you go to shoot if i found I really liked it but I dont see that happening) and are responsible with them in all aspects which I think more gun enthusiasts who register their guns are than arent then I dont have an issue with you. I just dont have an interest in having a gun or see any reason I would need one in my house
very very very sad.... :( brought tears into my eyes.... i have a 5 years old daughter and 4 years old son.... i live in leeds uk these days as i am studying here... i bring them back from school almost every day and i keep holding their hands all the way though i see many parents who let their children walk by them self and running on the road with trafic.... i have so much to say about this story but to be honest it was 100 % parents failure but if u see the other side of the picture no one imagen that such a terible thing could ever happened to him until it do.... in my life many insidents has happened which i never even dreamed about ..... so mishaps happen and you cant really blame anybody for it.. this is how life is ... i wish and pray not only for this couple but for every couple out there who has lost their child that may GOD bless them and help them in finding their loved ones... Amen
This is a terribly heart breaking story. I had to skip 15mins after getting 5 mins in - couldn't handle the mums pain. At least I am pretty convinced the parents didnt do it. But leaving your kids alone in a unit is just stupid. Especially that young.
Greetings readers/contributors,
Thinking outside the box, I have a few questions and comments: 1) Since child abductors don't usually travel too far from the point where they removed their victims, during the early police investigations did they conduct a thorough search of basements/cellars/attics (if any) within the holiday complex as well as all external residential dwellings, abandoned buildings and warehouses situated in close proximity to the resort? Did any of the eye-witnesses note the licence plate number of the white van? Are there any on-/off-site surveillance cameras?
2) Two years have elapsed since the abduction of Madeleine would the trail be considered too cold to bring in a missing persons psychic?
What is so striking, sad and scary about this matter is that all of those adults left their children unattended to go and enjoy a night out. That is the essence of selfishness. They should all be charged with child neglect and endangerment. If not the abduction, I can think of a host of terrible things that could have befallen them in the absence of their parents who are suppose to ensure their safety and protection. This world is no longer a safe place, and, unfortunately, everyone has to tread with care and be vigilant at all times - even while on vacation in a much touted child-safe environment.
A couple of people commented on the "hotel" and the "carelessness" of the parents.
As David Rodriguez said below, this was a rental apartment, not a hotel. There's a big difference.
Hotels have security and lobbies with desk clerks.
Vacation rentals in apartment buildings are just that...apartment rentals. No one watches who comes and goes.
I've stayed in several myself, and I'm sure any local would be aware when/which apartments are being used for short-term rentals, especially criminals in a resort town, in a neighborhood where those type of rentals are common. Several witnesses did mention seeing someone watching the building for several nights before the abduction.
In the opening interview, the mother refers to a partially-closed *interior* bedroom door, just like the one in any other apartment. They probably did not consider that the child wandered away if there were deadbolt locks that require keys on the exterior doors. (There was a clip of the father returning to the apartment during the private investigation, but I couldn't tell what type of lock he used the key on.)
The mother also spoke of seeing the bedroom curtains blow when she was checking on the children--which alerted her to something being wrong. That would make sense if she knew she or her husband had closed the window.
They weren't "careless" in that they left the apartment open to the outside. They were having dinner less than a block away, both they and the other parents were checking on all their children regularly, and all the parents probably thought they were being careful.
Sadly, they were wrong, but it doesn't mean they're guilty.
I also doubt they will ever find that child. She's either dead or someplace where no one would ever connect her to the case. But miracles do happen, rarely.
The only good news is that stranger abductions are very rare. Which might explain why the parents thought they were being careful enough.
When i look back at my life as a mother, i can see many times where things COULD have gone wrong but i was lucky it didn't. When i look at my daughter as a mom, i can feel many times worried, even more then when i was a mom myself (one of the roles of a grand-ma is to try to stay detached from being too involved ) but we all do our best in the moment, and sometimes life will catch you and sometimes it won't.
I am sure this story has many angles that are not covered by this doc or even were never covered by any disclosure.
The little girl may be alive and will never know this story.
az
Okay so I remember reading about this story a couple years ago.. I'm sorry you guys I watched like 15 mins of this Doc and I turned it off..Like I feel like there is something wrong with the way the parents reacted about their child being missing..The mother gives me the creeps when she explained what she thought happened she Automatically Knew Someone Abducted her child WTH..Okay you Leave your child in a room and Leave out of the Hotel Room to go have Dinner and Come Back find the little girl Missing and you think Someone Abducted Her???
Why didn't she say well since I have 3 children I left by themselves two of them babies, One of them is old enough to walk maybe the child got up in the middle of the night and walked around looking for her momma she could not find her because she is down the street eating dinner?? NO Someone Abducted her this made me upset. If Abduction was the case why didn't the Person Take All three of the children they all were there alone. I mean what parent is gonna go on vacation in another country and feel soo comfortable that they leave their children in a hotel room by themselves sleeping while they go out to eat?? I think they did something to the child and then opened up that window to make it look like someone came on the balcony looked through a closed curtain saw a little girl sleeping opening an unlocked window in a hotel room and kidnapped their child???.The whole thing does not make sense to me They Know What Happened its Sad and Upsets Me.
hey guys im Portuguese they didnt were in a resorte they were in a rent flat and that day the left the kids sleeping and went dinner like 50 metres from the flat the y could see the windows from teh flat not the door of the building it self and there was treas and bushes covering the sight has well they were recless yes but they thout they were in a smal vilage etc but Portugal has lots of abdutions pedophiles etc this is starting to be everything but not the country i've born...here lots of people think they kill'd the litle girl by acident and try to couver it up i really dont know some people think they exploit a lot the case to make money as well and employ the guy that work'd for pinochet i think it was'nt very smart
You can take my money, take my house, take anything you want from me (even my life) as long as you don't take my wife or my babies! There have been multiple child abductions in my neighborhood and sometimes they find them later without certain organs but the last two or three not at all. I think a situation like this would be one of the few times that I could "kill" another human being defending my children's lives. I do hope they find little Madeleine someday alive. Every parent's worst nightmare is a missing child.
If this precious child's ethnicity had been anything other than WHITE, I'm afraid we'd never have heard very much about her.
Sorry, but that's a sad reality about media exposure in cases like this.
Not sure how I feel about this. Kate says right at the start 'the door was open further than we'd left it'. If you were going to leave your kids alone in a hotel room surely you'd lock the door?
A few years back i participated in a series of art classes. In the group there was a woman who's child was abducted in Quebec 7 years before. The child was found in a nearby forest, the case was never solved.
The woman had regained a certain sense of happiness but her paintings could not hide the sorrow and pain.
The reason it is so puplicised is because of the dedication this woman has in finding her alive and also because the media loves these kind of wrenching events.
Not surprising that hotel and business owners would come and yell for money lost. MOney Money MOney...
As a mom and grand-ma...i feel for these people.
az
What I don't get and nobody seems to mention as anything out of the ordinary, but what parents leave their little kids (in one case a 4 year old and 2 infants) alone in an apartment in a foriegn country let alone at home while they are out having dinner? They checked on them every half an hour, left alone for half an hour there are so many things that could go wrong. And the worst possible thing did happen and one of the kids was taken. One of the kids could have woken and wandered around and got hurt or scared they were alone or any number of things could have happened. It freaking amazes me that not one but a few sets of parents seem to feel this type of thing was ok, it is beyond irresponsible. When my son was young like that (the twins were just babies really werent they?) I wouldnt even sit in the back or front yard without a baby monitor on so i could hear him in case he woke and called for me or if he started choking on something. These people were actually around the corner in a bloody cafe or whatever it was eating dinner, that alone would be considered neglect here but nobody even mentions it as an issue. Even though they had nothing to do with the kidnapping the parents are totally at fault for this happening, it really pisses me off. And because of their stupid selfish actions of leaving little kids alone a poor little girl is now god knows where.
The whole story here really stinks. I do not believe this child's abduction was a mystery to her parents and between them and the media, a right dog's dinner was made of the case which remains unsolved. I can never figure out why a smattering of such cases receive uprecedented (and futile) publicity, whilst hundreds of thousands of others slip unnoticed into the mists.
900 cases of chilren who have been missing for more than 2 years is very encouraging. I am glad to have watched this, especially so that I could see the age progression photograph of Madeline. She still has those eyes, a definite advantage. In her mother's eyes, I see such sadness. My heart goes out to her and to Jerry. I believe this little girl is alive and that one day she will return--- soon, I hope.
Being Portuguese i do know blood was found by dogs inside a rented car and in some walls inside the apartment, draw your conclusions... I do hope she is okay, but i dont believe that she is.