Have most people given up on finding Madeleine alive?

[Carana]

The tabloids are well known for miking any story to saturation point... and beyond.

Conspiracy theories over Diana's death in the Express seem to have only subsided when they found the next potential national obsession: Madeleine McCann.

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

If anonymous blogs and forums had existed in the 80s - early 90s, there would have been innumerable ones over Diana and Charles, with people who never knew Diana and are unlikely to ever know Charles screaming into the void of the Internet.

[Lyall]

The tabloids are well known for miking any story to saturation point... and beyond.

Conspiracy theories over Diana's death in the Express seem to have only subsided when they found the next potential national obsession: Madeleine McCann.

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

If anonymous blogs and forums had existed in the 80s - early 90s, there would have been innumerable ones over Diana and Charles, with people who never knew Diana and are unlikely to ever know Charles screaming into the void of the Internet.

There's the answer for Alfred then. There's little discussion about Diana now, and not even much about David Kelly any longer. Ditto with Jill Dando, when that was another case that hit the roof of national hysteria. Many of those discussing this case will move on when there's another equivalent case. Many still won't however because Diana, Dando and Kelly weren't young children and just as Madeleine being young, white and blonde helped generate the hysteria in May 2007 it will also prolong case discussion. It's Madeleine herself who is the answer to Alfred's question.

[Carana]

There's the answer for Alfred then. There's little discussion about Diana now, and not even much about David Kelly any longer. Ditto with Jill Dando, when that was another case that hit the roof of national hysteria. Many of those discussing this case will move on when there's another equivalent case. Many still won't however because Diana, Dando and Kelly weren't young children and just as Madeleine being young, white and blonde helped generate the hysteria in May 2007 it will also prolong case discussion. It's Madeleine herself who is the answer to Alfred's question.

A difference between Diana, Jill Dando and Kelly being that Madeleine's fate is unknown. The others have, sadly passed away.

However slim the possibility, Madeleine might still be alive somewhere, or might have still been for some time if people had stopped assuming that she was dead, that her parents had known about it all along and that therefore there was no point in remaining vigilant.

[Lyall]

A difference between Diana, Jill Dando and Kelly being that Madeleine's fate is unknown. The others have, sadly passed away.

However slim the possibility, Madeleine might still be alive somewhere, or might have still been for some time if people had stopped assuming that she was dead, that her parents had known about it all along and that therefore there was no point in remaining vigilant.

Unfortunately people assume the worst anyway in missing child cases. There's a MWT video about Soham in which a policeman says he assumed it within days - that's just human nature, and not something unusual in Madeleine's case.

Diana, Kelly and Dando are gone but the reasons why are still very much in doubt. That's why I was comparing them to this case - and all 3 reached similar levels of national emotion as May 2007. But discussion in all three is minimal now.

[Carana]

Unfortunately people assume the worst anyway in missing child cases. There's a MWT video about Soham in which a policeman says he assumed it within days - that's just human nature, and not something unusual in Madeleine's case.

Diana, Kelly and Dando are gone but the reasons why are still very much in doubt. That's why I was comparing them to this case - and all 3 reached similar levels of national emotion as May 2007. But discussion in all three is minimal now.

Yes, I understand that.

What I find disturbing, however, is that people have been led to assume that this little girl is definitely dead, and have jumped a step ahead to inventing conspiracy theories and fighting for premium places beside the scaffolding when there is no credible evidence that she is.

Other children have been found alive, some many years later.

I wouldn't give up if I had known and loved her.

If I were a missing person, the worst thing must be that utter despair that everyone assumes that I'm dead and no one is trying to rescue me any more.

[Wonderfulspam]

Yes, I understand that.

What I find disturbing, however, is that people have been led to assume that this little girl is definitely dead, and have jumped a step ahead to inventing conspiracy theories and fighting for premium places beside the scaffolding when there is no credible evidence that she is.

Other children have been found alive, some many years later.

I wouldn't give up if I had known and loved her.

If I were a missing person, the worst thing must be that utter despair that everyone assumes that I'm dead and no one is trying to rescue me any more.

Her parents have lead me to believe that.

Still, if I saw her in the street you think I wouldn't call the police?

I'd want some reward money for it though, I don't do nutink for free.

[John]

Yes, I understand that.

What I find disturbing, however, is that people have been led to assume that this little girl is definitely dead, and have jumped a step ahead to inventing conspiracy theories and fighting for premium places beside the scaffolding when there is no credible evidence that she is.

Other children have been found alive, some many years later.

I wouldn't give up if I had known and loved her.

If I were a missing person, the worst thing must be that utter despair that everyone assumes that I'm dead and no one is trying to rescue me any more.

For a start, any three-year-old abducted and placed into another household nearly eight years ago will have few memories of her former life.  Secondly, the search is for a culprit these days, Madeleine comes a poor second unfortunately.

[Lyall]

Yes, I understand that.

What I find disturbing, however, is that people have been led to assume that this little girl is definitely dead, and have jumped a step ahead to inventing conspiracy theories and fighting for premium places beside the scaffolding when there is no credible evidence that she is.

Other children have been found alive, some many years later.

I wouldn't give up if I had known and loved her.

If I were a missing person, the worst thing must be that utter despair that everyone assumes that I'm dead and no one is trying to rescue me any more.

Police might assume the worst but that doesn't mean they stop looking for the perpetrator does it - especially in missing child cases they want to find the evidence to convict those who were responsible.

And members of the public wouldn't ignore something they saw or heard just because they might have strong opinion about Madeleine's case - if they saw or heard something they'd report it because it could be any child. I think the idea they'd dismiss it just because they thought it couldn't possibly be Madeleine is absurd (they'd know it could be anyone!).

[John]

Clearly the priority for Scotland Yard is to apprehend someone in order to justify the millions they have spent on this case. 

[Mr Gray]

are they not waiting for the latest rogatories to be processed

[Brietta]

Yes, I understand that.

What I find disturbing, however, is that people have been led to assume that this little girl is definitely dead, and have jumped a step ahead to inventing conspiracy theories and fighting for premium places beside the scaffolding when there is no credible evidence that she is.

Other children have been found alive, some many years later.

I wouldn't give up if I had known and loved her.

If I were a missing person, the worst thing must be that utter despair that everyone assumes that I'm dead and no one is trying to rescue me any more.

Michelle Knight one of Ariel Castro's kidnap victims in Cleveland remains estranged from her family, one reason being that they gave up on her.

Amanda Berry and Gina DeJesus whose parents never gave up on them (and whose advice to the relatives of missing people is to "never give up hope") have been comforted by the knowledge they were being looked for during their long incarceration.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2358645/Cleveland-kidnapping-victims-Amanda-Berry-Gina-DeJesus-Michelle-Knight-appear-video-time.html

[Miss Taken Identity]

Police might assume the worst but that doesn't mean they stop looking for the perpetrator does it - especially in missing child cases they want to find the evidence to convict those who were responsible.

And members of the public wouldn't ignore something they saw or heard just because they might have strong opinion about Madeleine's case - if they saw or heard something they'd report it because it could be any child. I think the idea they'd dismiss it just because they thought it couldn't possibly be Madeleine is absurd (they'd know it could be anyone!).

That is so true Lyall. I would never give up hope, and don't expect the parents to say anything other than that, but the poilce can't follow every single lead it has to be established if it is worth following. IMO

[Brietta]

That is so true Lyall. I would never give up hope, and don't expect the parents to say anything other than that, but the poilce can't follow every single lead it has to be established if it is worth following. IMO

How would the police establish whether or not a lead is worth following if they do not investigate it?

Ricardo Paiva's solution of having a file marked "Not Relevant to the Inquiry" could possibly be classed as a dereliction of duty rather than proper policing ... then of course the fact he believed Madeleine was dead meant he didn't see the point.

[G-Unit]

The saturation coverage in the media at the time and the huge reward offered by the News of the World didn't bring any information in. The investigation in Portugal didn't find any clue as to Madeleine's whereabouts. The SY investigation hasn't, as far as we know, found any sign of where a living child might be. The amount of digging they did suggests that they were looking for a body.

I would be very surprised (but also very pleased) if she was ever found alive.

[faithlilly]

How would the police establish whether or not a lead is worth following if they do not investigate it?

Ricardo Paiva's solution of having a file marked "Not Relevant to the Inquiry" could possibly be classed as a dereliction of duty rather than proper policing ... then of course the fact he believed Madeleine was dead meant he didn't see the point.

Unless of course those leads had been investigated and deemed 'Not Relevant to the Inquiry'. What do you think ? Any reason to believe they weren't ?

Anyway it would appear the PJ team were  right as SY don't seem to be following up any of those 'leads', do they ?