Madeleine McCann's parents release heartfelt message to their missing daughter on 18th anniversary of her disappearance ahead of her 22nd birthday this month
Missing Madeleine McCann 's parents have posted a poignant message to their missing daughter on the 18th anniversary of her abduction.
Kate and Gerry McCann updated their official Find Madeleine Facebook page just hours ahead of the milestone of when she went missing during a family holiday in Portugal on May 3 2007.
The toddler vanished while in the resort of Praia da Luz on the Algarve and since then there has been no positive sighting and no one has been charged with her abduction, but her parents have never given up hope.
In their message – which also marked what would be Madeleine's 22nd birthday later this month - they also made a heartfelt nod to missing and displaced children in the UK and war torn Ukraine and Gaza.
Kate and Gerry said: 'As we arrive at the 18th anniversary of Madeleine's abduction, we'd like to thank our faithful supporters once again for standing by us and never forgetting about Madeleine.
'The years appear to be passing even more quickly and whilst we have no significant news to share, our determination to 'leave no stone unturned' is unwavering. We will do our utmost to achieve this.
'May is also the month which includes 'International Missing Children's Day' (25th). We continue to remember all missing children and their families, both here in the UK and abroad, thinking especially of all the children displaced from their homes & families in Ukraine & Gaza at this time.
'We're very grateful to the UK Charity, 'Missing People' for their ongoing, invaluable work, & to all organisations, charities and police forces who remain committed, despite many challenges and limited resources, to finding & bringing home the many missing and abducted children.
The couple also posted a poignant message celebrating Madeleine as 'the very beautiful and unique person she is'
Gerry and Kate said that 'no matter how near or far she is, she continues to be right here with us, every day'
'May is also Madeleine's birthday - her 22nd this year. No matter how near or far she is, she continues to be right here with us, every day, but especially on her special day. We continue to 'celebrate' her as the very beautiful and unique person she is. We miss her.'
The post contained a montage of pictures of Madeleine with the caption:' No matter how near or far she is, Madeleine continues to be with us, every day.'
Kate and Gerry signed off the message which was posted on Friday night, ahead of Saturday's anniversary and they are expected to attend a prayer vigil in their home village of Rothley, Leicestershire, to mark her disappearance.
Earlier this week it emerged that police would be keeping an eye on the event after Kate and Gerry were allegedly stalked by a polish woman called Julia Wandel who has visited their home and called them claiming to be their missing daughter.
Wandel has since been arrested and is in custody ahead of her trial in the UK later this year after she was arrested at Bristol airport on her way to visit Rothley and Kate, 57, and Gerry, 56, are due to give evidence.
Convicted rapist and paedophile Christian Brueckner, 47, has been named as the prime suspect for her abduction and murder by German police but since the announcement five years ago he has not been charged with any offence.
The German was living in the Algarve at the time of Madeleine's disappearance and is currently serving a seven-year jail term for raping a woman in the same area and he is due for release in the autumn.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
22 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Madeleine McCann suspect's chilling message to other paedophile uncovered
Christian Brueckner, the prime suspect in Madeleine McCann's disappearance, made a sickening remark to a fellow paedophile, according to a shocking new documentary The prime suspect in Madeleine McCann 's disappearance made a harrowing remark to a fellow paedophile, it has been claimed. According to a new Channel 4 documentary about the missing child, produced in collaboration with The Sun, horrific evidence found at convicted paedophile Christian Breuckner's property included images of children in swimming costumes, toddler toys, and sickening child kidnapping stories. An 80GB hard drive was found consisting of images and a laptop key, which may have prompted investigators to link the suspect to Madeleine's disappearance. The hard drive also placed Brueckner at the heart of the search location in Arades Dam, in Portugal. The documentary revealed that Brueckner allegedly made a sick admission about wanting to "capture something small and use it for days," along with images of child abuse. READ MORE: Christian Brueckner timeline: Every clue that nailed paedo as prime Madeleine McCann suspect He also is said to have threatened it would not matter if "evidence is destroyed afterwards" before adding: "I'll make a lot of films... hehe." There have even been assertions that police have proof of Madeleine's death. "They are certain that he's the man who did it and they do have evidence that they haven't revealed," said Jon Clarke, a journalist and author of My Search for Madeleine. However, he clarified that they require all pieces of the puzzle to engage in a "tactical game" with Brueckner, who is backed by formidable legal representation. Brueckner is due to be released from jail in September if no further charges are brought. In October last year, he was cleared by a German court of unrelated sexual offences, alleged to have taken place in Portugal between 2000 and 2017. Leads have been few and far between since little Madeleine disappeared during a family holiday to the Algarve some 18 years ago. Last week, the most recent search for any clues related to Madeleine's disappearance lasted three days in Praia da Luz. It took place close to where Brueckner is known to have had camped. German and Portuguese police came together this week to search every property and pieces of land linked to Brueckner, ahead of his September release. This search, the most significant since 2008, included an abandoned farmhouse surrounded by partially collapsed outbuildings. Police were spotted removing mounds of earth from the scene, which was then taken away in plastic bags for further examination. Firemen were also spotted draining an abandoned well. Now, police are investigating samples of 'clothes and bones' found in last week's search, it is claimed. Initial reports suggested the operation - which took place 30 miles from where three-year-old Madeleine went missing in May 2007 - had failed to turn up any new leads. But now, it has been claimed that fragments of clothing and bones are to undergo testing this week after being uncovered at the scene. A source told Berlin Morning Post: "Several objects have apparently been discovered, which are now being examined in more detail by the police in the laboratory. 'As Portuguese media report, clothing debris and bones were found, among other things. The investigators have not officially commented on whether the finds could have anything to do with Madeleine's disappearance but that is clearly their hope.'
South Wales Guardian
a day ago
- South Wales Guardian
Madeleine McCann searches concluded as planned, prosecutors say
Head prosecutor in Braunschweig, Hans Christian Wolters, said the co-operation between the Portuguese and German authorities during the operation was 'very constructive'. His words came after The Sun newspaper reported that samples had been taken from last week's searches after claims that bones and clothing fibres were found. The newspaper reported that the bones were initially deemed to be animal remains but have been retained by prosecutors to be forensically examined. The latest hunt for evidence came 18 years after three-year-old Madeleine disappeared from the Portuguese resort of Praia da Luz while on holiday with her family in 2007. She was left sleeping by her parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, and vanished as they went for dinner in a nearby restaurant. Search teams concluded their operation in neighbouring Atalaia, near the city of Lagos, after three days of scouring scrubland and abandoned structures. German prosecutors requested the search as part of their continued attempts to source evidence to implicate prime suspect Christian Brueckner. He is in prison for raping a 72-year-old woman in Praia da Luz in 2005 and is due to be released from jail in September if no further charges are brought. According to reports, Brueckner sent a letter to police saying 'decisive questions can never be answered'. Another letter shows the suspect telling Mr Wolters that 'the investigation will be dropped', The Sun reported. In October last year, he was cleared by a German court of unrelated sexual offences, alleged to have taken place in Portugal between 2000 and 2017.
South Wales Argus
a day ago
- South Wales Argus
Madeleine McCann searches concluded as planned, prosecutors say
Head prosecutor in Braunschweig, Hans Christian Wolters, said the co-operation between the Portuguese and German authorities during the operation was 'very constructive'. His words came after The Sun newspaper reported that samples had been taken from last week's searches after claims that bones and clothing fibres were found. Madeleine went missing in Portugal in 2007 (PA) The newspaper reported that the bones were initially deemed to be animal remains but have been retained by prosecutors to be forensically examined. The latest hunt for evidence came 18 years after three-year-old Madeleine disappeared from the Portuguese resort of Praia da Luz while on holiday with her family in 2007. She was left sleeping by her parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, and vanished as they went for dinner in a nearby restaurant. Search teams concluded their operation in neighbouring Atalaia, near the city of Lagos, after three days of scouring scrubland and abandoned structures. German prosecutors requested the search as part of their continued attempts to source evidence to implicate prime suspect Christian Brueckner. He is in prison for raping a 72-year-old woman in Praia da Luz in 2005 and is due to be released from jail in September if no further charges are brought. According to reports, Brueckner sent a letter to police saying 'decisive questions can never be answered'. Another letter shows the suspect telling Mr Wolters that 'the investigation will be dropped', The Sun reported. In October last year, he was cleared by a German court of unrelated sexual offences, alleged to have taken place in Portugal between 2000 and 2017.
