It’s been nearly eleven long years since Madeleine McCann disappeared, but investigators have just made an announcement indicating that her parents Gerry and Katy McCann may finally find out what happened to their little girl.
The McCann family was vacationing in Praia de Luz, Portugal in May of 2007 when three year-old Maddie vanished from their room at the resort they were staying at.
Over the tenth anniversary of her disappearance last year, various new questions and theories about what happened to her emerged. In addition, Maddie’s nanny broke her silence for the first time to finally put rumors to rest that the child’s parents had been involved.
In what is perhaps the biggest recent development of all, authorities have announced that they have finally identified the mysterious “woman in purple” who witnesses said was standing outside the apartment Maddie was taken from. The woman is believed to be 58 year-old waitress Luisa Todorov, and witnesses said she was “acting bizarrely” and “watching intently” after the abduction.
On March 26, Metropolitan Police announced that the Home Office has increased the funding for Operation Grange, the effort to find Maddie. An additional $200,000 in funding has been given to the investigation to help officers investigate an “important final line of inquiry.”
“The Government remains committed to the investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann,” a rep for the Home Office said. “We have briefed the Metropolitan Police Service that its application for Special Grant funding for Operation Grange will be granted. The inquiry has not reached a conclusion and we’re continuing with focus and determination. There are no immediate plans to reduce officer numbers further at this time.”
Though over $15 million has been spent on finding Maddie and over 9,000 leads have come in, she has still never been found. Since the investigation is ongoing, police rarely open up about what they believe happened to her, which has left the public wondering what became of this adorable child.
Kate and Gerry released a brief statement about this latest development through a spokesman, Clarence Mitchell.
“They are very encouraged that the Met Police still believe there is work left to be done and they are incredibly grateful to the Home Office for providing an extra budget for the investigation,” he said. “It gives them hope that one day they may finally find out what happened to their daughter.”
We can’t imagine what this poor family has gone through in the past decade. Please SHARE this story so your friends and family can see the latest developments of this case!
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