Madeline McCann

[Lace Neil Singer]

This was, at least at the time, a huge news event in the UK. Here are the bare bones of the case for anyone who doesn't know.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disappearance_of_Madeleine_McCann

The parents were suspected of murdering their daughter, which provoked outrage in people who didn't realise that in a case where a child disappears or is killed, the parents are always investigated first. The parents also set up a site to ask for donations in order to search for Madeline, despite being fairly well off themselves.

I don't blame them for wanting to leave no stone uncovered in the search for their daughter, just that the whole media circus probably contributed to their daughter's abductor ensuring that she would never be found. A media blackout would have been more useful. Also, it's a tragic case, but there are other cases that didn't get nearly as much media attention or money, for example, Ben Needham (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disappearance_of_Ben_Needham).

The parents believe that their daughter is still alive; there is very little evidence for this, save a spate of so called "sightings", most of which have been disproved.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1204605/Now-Madeleine-hunt-moves-Down-Under.html

What is everyone's views on this?

[Flyndaran]

From the story, I think the parents if not killed the kid then at least got rid of the body. Leaving a 4 year old unattended when they went to a restaurant? Please, I won't believe a word they say without a mountain of evidence.

[Rapscallion]

This is going to sound harsh, but the average disappeared child is generally dead within a few days, if not hours. It's not pleasant, but it's pretty much true of all child abductions I can remember hearing about.

Quite frankly, though, I would do the same in their position - any chance of recovering my own child (not that I have any) and I'd go for it until there was certain evidence one way or another.

There are two main strands of debate here, though, for me.

Financially well-off parents asking for donations. Even well-off people are going to feel the strain, and if people are willing to help then that's their choice.

Madeleine was blonde-haired and blue-eyed, and the amount of attention given to - for example - missing black children by the media is significantly different. Even a relatively ugly girl such as Shannon Matthews (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kidnapping_of_Shannon_Matthews) got some publicity, but not as much. TL:DR version - mother kidnapped her own daughter for financial gain, but child was fairly grim to view.

Rapscallion

[Mr Slugger]

Honestly I would never stop looking.

For them I'm sure while they hope to find her alive to some extent anything would be good. Because while I'm sure they want her back alive even dead is closure.

As far as news stories that get publicized and some not. I think alot of it yes is looks, also the story behind it, as well as contacts. Who do these people know within a few jumps. I mean celebrities coming to the aid of the parents I mean maybe a family friend knows someone who knows that person, and other families don't know nobody.

[IDrinkaRum]

Not all abducted children are killed immediately. Some are not killed at all.

Take the case of Steven Stayner (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steven_Stayner)

He was abducted at age 7 and re-surfaced at age 14 when his abducter stole another 7-year-old little boy. (The man who abducted him kept him with him and molested him all those years).

Mr. Stayner was eventually killed in a motorcycle accident. His brother, Cary (htthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cary_Staynerp://), is a serial killer who is on death row.

Also, there is the case of Elizabeth Smart (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Smart). The man and woman who abducted her wanted her as the man's second wife.

These are the exception to the "rule" of child adbuctions, but they do give parents of abducted children hope that their own child will be found someday.