Sketches Released Of Maddie Kidnap Suspect

Family Of Missing U.K. Girl Unveils Sketches Of Suspicious Man Sighted Near Scene

(CBS/AP)  The parents of missing British girl Madeleine McCann released a new artist's impression today of a man they claim could be involved in their daughter's disappearance.

The sketches are based on a description given by a British vacationer of a man acting suspiciously in the Praia da Luz holiday resort in Portugal, about two weeks before the girl disappeared.

Madeleine vanished May 3rd, a few days before her 4th birthday, during a family vacation in Praia da Luz.

Family spokesman Clarence Mitchell told a London news conference the image is similar to a previous description of a man seen carrying a child on the night of the girl's disappearance.

The FBI-trained police artist's impression shows a man with long hair, bushy eyebrows and a moustache.

Gary Thompson, Associate Editor of the News of the World, said the sighting was from Gail Cooper, a tourist who was on holiday in Portugal shortly before Madeleine went missing.

"But the real significance is that it's been shown to Jane Tanner, who you may recall says she saw a man leaving the apartments carrying a child on the night of May 3, the night that Madeleine went missing," he said. "We understand that Jane Tanner has confirmed the likeness, so you've got two independent witnesses."

"He made my blood run cold and gave me the creeps," said Cooper, who was staying near the McCanns' appartment, and who had three separate chilling encounters with the mystery man.

Sunday's paper revealed other witnesses, who confirmed the likeness.

Two of Cooper's sightings were also witnessed by her husband, and another witness - a 12-year-old girl - backed up her story, according to News of the World.

"He seemed really strange," Cooper said, recounting one occasion when the man (whom she believes was not Portuguese) came to her door.

"He said he was collecting for an orphanage in nearby Espiche that was caring for three children whose parents had recently been killed in an accident on the main coast road. The man was rambling and becoming agitated. I thought he was a con man trying to pull a fast one."

The newspaper confirmed that the orphanage cited does not exist, and did not find any evidence of the fatal car crash he mentioned.

Madeleine's parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, who have run an international campaign to find their daughter, returned to Britain in September, a day after they were named as formal suspects in the case.

Forensic tests conducted at a government laboratory in Britain found evidence that DNA from Madeleine was in the trunk of a rental car the parents used after her disappearance. But Portuguese police said the tests on the car were not conclusive and investigations are continuing.

The inquiry initially focused on the possibility that Madeleine had been abducted from her hotel room at a resort while her parents were dining at a nearby restaurant.

A source close to the probe called the release of the sketches "a stunning breakthrough."

"We now have a manhunt. Where is this man now? We need to find him as soon as possible."

[mjsjohnson67]

Every scenario that can be imagined is very sad. Whether it be that these very rich, highly educated, doctor''s left their very young babies, unattended in a foreign country (I''m sure they had the foresight to put their passports and jewelery in the room safe ... just in case someone broke in) or that they somehow accidentally killed her (possibly with sedatives, loss of temper, or she got into mischief while unattended)... then possibly decided it was best to dump her body somewhere in Portugal, lead the world on a wild goose chase to create the appearance of being victims in front of their families, colleagues and friends when in reality they are criminals. Either way, this couple should not be regarded with respect or sympathy. It is clear, that they behaved recklessly, they have paved their family''s path and unfortunately Madeline is paying, or has paid the price for that.

[omisskitty]

Hello,

I have to say, In the USA people are arrested for leaving children in cars, while they pay for gas, I would never leave my girls home alone for an hour. they r 12 and 8. I would never leave three toddlers alone for any reason. I hope these parents have to face some charge for leaving the children alone. It''s almost like they were part of it. Maybe they made a profit, since only one child was taken. Just think for one little bit how unsafe the area is that each of us live in. THen the father is a doctor does he not treat children who were harmed in any way just by family members let alone strangers! I just hope Maddie, is safe,and doesn''t have any type of sexual abuse or anything else to dealwith. I hope she has clothes and is being feed like all children should be treated. Most important I hope she is still alive!

[erasmus6]

"no one leaaves their chidren alone like that." posted by ann3332


Your statement should have read: "no one with a BRAIN leaves their children alone like that." But the sad fact is that there are MILLIONS of parents that do just that. They don''t learn from others mistakes, they just keep repeating them.

What has happened to society? There just seems to be more and more parents making these kinds of mistakes. It seems like it is almost everyday you hear of parents leaving their kids alone or with babysitters they don''t even know or how about the parents being the ones that have hurt their own children.

Parents need to be punished when these things happen. If anything is going to stop them from doing these stupid things, this will. Because we all know that children being molested or killed just ain''t doing it.

Surely Maddie''s parents will be charged with SOMETHING. It may do nothing for them but it would assauge the grief-stricken public.

[ann3332]

what made me made mad is why did they leave the children by themselve why they went for diners. no one leaaves their chidren alone like that.

[hiproductions--2008]

This is George Harrison of the Beatles. He''s come back to haunt Portugal.

[new_koki]

the parents go out dining leaving their 3 years old daughter in a strang place with no one to watch i find this very strang

[lloydbest1]

"The first sketch -- of a moustached white man with olive-colored skin and collar-length dark scraggly hair --" (from CNN).
In a country like Portugal he ought to be real easy to find. There couldn''t be more than about 2 million males fitting that description. I hope this helps solve the case but this late in the game and a sketch depicting the archtype southern European, I ain''t too optimistic.

[erasmus6]

You know, you think that people can''t get any more stupid, but then they end up proving you wrong.

[displeased]

What kind of parents take off and leave THREE babies ALONE in an apt, while they go out and party?
Posted by OldThought

Most other people would be arrested for child neglect and have their children taken away from them.

[Netterz]

What kind of parents take off and leave THREE babies ALONE in an apt, while they go out and party? If they are wealthy enough to be world travelers, couldnt they afford to hire a sitter? Maddie was the oldest, and not yet even 4, what on earth were they thinking in the first place? I feel horrible for the baby, but I feel NOTHING for these parents, who shouldnt have bred, if they werent beyond the days of going out to dinner and party with friends, instead of acting like sincere parents, and not leaving there children alone. They make me SICK. I wish I could get up and slap both of them, each time I see them on TV,

[rowdytexan2]

Why is this just coming out?

[wolf563]

Police screwed this up from the start and had to back track and start over again . I just hope she is with someone that just wanted a daughter of thier own and has not hurt her in any way.

[displeased]

Apparently they saw a vampire. It''s strange they release a sketch 8 months after the incident.