One hundred days since her disappearance, Portuguese police have finally admitted publicly that Madeleine McCann may be dead. Investigator Olegario Sousa said:

“In the past few days there have been some developments, some clues that have been found that could point to the possible death of the little child. All lines of inquiry are open, but this line has a little more intensity.”

Sousa’s comments come a day after Madeleine’s parents Gerry and Kate spoke of how they hoped a “shift” in the police probe would yield vital clues about the abduction.

The possibility of her death is something they will not want to face, for reasons you don’t have to be a parent to understand. Whatever naivete they may have demonstrated by leaving their children unattended, everybody with the least familiarity with the case hoped there would be a happy ending. Sadly, this was always going to be unlikely.

Natascha Kampusch proved there is always a tiny chance of a vanished child coming home. However, Madeleine’s parents will never be able to move on with their lives if they dwell on hope. I would never urge them to give up hope but if they don’t accept the possibility their daughter will not return they will be remain in stasis.

There have been many supposed sightings of the child and many theories as to what happened to her. I’m not sure we will ever know for sure unless her abductor breaks his or her silence.

www.findmadeleine.com