Seventeen years after Madeleine McCann vanished from a holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, Portugal, numerous theories continue to circulate. Scotland Yard has been reviewing the case since 2011 and received £150,000 in new government funding in November 2018. A Netflix documentary series, The Disappearance of Madeleine McCann, has also reignited public interest.
One prominent theory is that Madeleine's parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, accidentally killed her, possibly by administering an excessive sedative so she would sleep while they dined nearby. The theory suggests they then hid the body, faked an abduction, and later disposed of the corpse using a hire car. This was bolstered by sniffer dogs that alerted to blood and cadaver scent in the apartment and hire car, and by DNA analysis that found 15 of 19 components of Madeleine's profile in the car. However, the Forensic Science Service cautioned that the DNA match was not unique, as many people share those components. The McCanns were made formal suspects (arguidos) in September 2007 but had this status removed in July 2008. They have always maintained their innocence and are suing former Portuguese investigator Goncalo Amaral, who wrote a book alleging they faked the abduction.
Another theory posits that burglars broke into the apartment and killed or abducted Madeleine when she woke up. Scotland Yard has not ruled this out, though it would likely involve panicked thieves leaving obvious clues. Detectives once identified four local suspects but their leads did not result in charges.
Other scenarios include abduction by a paedophile ring, Madeleine wandering off and meeting with an accident, or being taken by someone known to the family. Despite extensive investigations, no conclusive evidence has emerged, and the case remains open.
