Search areas: who searched where, when and how

[ShiningInLuz]

They searched Rocha Negra beach. They should have checked the rocks area from the church properly. That's an obvious hiding place in the dark not the sandy beach. SY should be doing it now with those pesky dogs.

Letter regarding inspection sites 2007.07.01
Canine Inspection Report
Date * Time 1 August 2007 20h00
Place Praia da Luz * Lagos
Participants: three PJ officers; two UK police experts; one Scotland Yard police officer; Eddy, the
English Springer [Spaniel]; two GNR police officers
Today, after assessment of the area surrounding the tourist resort named "Ocean Club" in Praia da
Luz, in which [assessment] were considered matters of toponomy, soil characteristics and distance
from the apartment from where the minor Madeleine McCann disappeared, an inspection was
done with the canine unit specialised in the detection of cadaver odour, in Praia da Luz, in the area
from the start of the rock formation contiguous [immediately next] to the beach and commonly
called "talefe" up to the area called "Rocha Negra" [Black Rock] that is characterised by the
existence of a volcanic chimney [vent].
1. Thus, at 20h05, the stretch of sand, rock and rocky cavities [hollows] in the terrain was
examined, nothing abnormal having been detected. The inspection happened in an area located to
the left, when facing the sea, of the sandy beach of Luz, from the Millenium Restaurant
The entire stretch of ground was examined, nothing abnormal was detected and so the work
concluded at 21h00.

http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/DOGS_INSPECTION.htm

Thanks for this.

There are 3 rocky areas in Luz.  First is to the west of the little beach, which clearly is not indicated in this report.  Second is to the south of the church, extending to the main beach somewhat east.
Then there is some 300m of beach before rocks near the cliff.  These are crumbly and have warning signs of rockfalls.  The rocks extend to Black Rock and beyond.

I don't know whether it is relevant or not, but most of the holiday makers constantly explore the rocks near Black Rock for the simple reason that they are filled with pools of seawater, containing crabs, shellfish and some weirdy beardy horrible looking red things.

It is a free entertainment that keeps small kids entertained for hours at a stretch so it is very popular.

I must not mention the lady sunbathing topless.

I doubt that anyone did a proper search of any of the 3 sets of rocks that night.  Even if one had a torch, this is a leg-breaker.

[ShiningInLuz]

Mark Harrison reviewed the initial searches carried out in the first 7 days;

GNR Searches Conducted within 7 days of Madeleine McCann's Disappearance.
On Saturday 21.07.2007 I met with Major Luis Seqeuira, GNR Portimao who was the search coordinator for all search activity that was under taken in the physical search for Madeleine McCann..... The teams available and deployed by Major Seqeuira were drawn from unit of the GNR, Civil Protection, Fire Brigade, Red Cross and Urban Police. Each team numbered around 10 and between 80 to 100 personnel were involved in search activity.

The search was split into 3 zones radiating out from Praia Da Luz in a northward direction. The first zone extended 3km to the EN125 road at Espiche. W?hin this zone, sectors were drawn using the natural boundaries that exist and included the entire village. Officers were briefed and debriefed before and after deployments and records of activity collected. Each sector was repeatedly searched on 3 separate occasions over the 7 days using officers conducting line searches and supported by air scenting dogs.

The next Zone 2 was extended out to a radius of 7km to the boundary of the N120 road at Bensafrim. As the sectors were larger and in order to support the line searches 2 GNR officers on motorcycles and 6 GNR officers on horse-back were deployed. These sectors were all searched on 2 separate occasions over the 7 day period.
The outer zone 3 was extended to 15km at Barragem de Odiaxere a dammed lake. This zone is in a mountainous region subject to flash forest fires.
Therefore Fire officers who routinely patrol and have local knowledge of the area were tasked to drive the tracks, visit empty properties to look for the missing girl. Additionally the fire brigade used a boat to visually inspect the surface water of the lake.

I have been a bit tardy on responses to this thread because my time has been taken up trying to produce an update phone map on my blog, so please accept my apologies.

Question - does or does not the all fit into the very generic - people searched summary?  Folks were active?  There is no information whatsoever about what area was covered in what unit time.  Sectors were drawn - what sectors? Officers were debriefed ... and records collected.  What records?

Barragem de Odiáxere, in a region subject to flash forest fires.  While tracks were driven and empty properties were investigated?  Please note, in a nutshell the break-and-enter laws here are similar to the UK.  The GNR has no right to enter an empty property unless it is totally derelict, they have the owner's permission, or they get a warrant.

Whilst what is the use of driving on tracks?  A disposal site won't be seen from driving on tracks.  I have been having an extremely tough time looking for very large sites that acted as communication links at the time.  I haven't a hope in hell of finding a clandestine grave in a forest.

Therefore my summary of this report is - people tried.

[Brietta]

I have been a bit tardy on responses to this thread because my time has been taken up trying to produce an update phone map on my blog, so please accept my apologies.

Question - does or does not the all fit into the very generic - people searched summary?  Folks were active?  There is no information whatsoever about what area was covered in what unit time.  Sectors were drawn - what sectors? Officers were debriefed ... and records collected.  What records?

Barragem de Odiáxere, in a region subject to flash forest fires.  While tracks were driven and empty properties were investigated?  Please note, in a nutshell the break-and-enter laws here are similar to the UK.  The GNR has no right to enter an empty property unless it is totally derelict, they have the owner's permission, or they get a warrant.

Whilst what is the use of driving on tracks?  A disposal site won't be seen from driving on tracks.  I have been having an extremely tough time looking for very large sites that acted as communication links at the time.  I haven't a hope in hell of finding a clandestine grave in a forest.

Therefore my summary of this report is - people tried.

One of the main areas from which to gain intelligence in a modern day search is from phone traffic. 

I don't know, if Madeleine's had been a planned abduction involving more than one person, people would have been aware of the necessity for 'radio silence'. 
Eight years down the line they would certainly be aware and either not used the phone at all or in an emergency an untraceable Pay As You Go to be discarded immediately the job was done.

If any reliance can be placed on leaks to newspapers SY's interest was excited by certain phone pings which I think might have indicated short panic calls ~ perhaps as a result of unplanned abduction.

Heri goes into it in more detail ... http://espacioexterior.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/madeleine-mccann_7.html

You have raised the issue in your blog that there is a great deal of evidence in the files regarding phone traffic between Mr Murat and his associates and the Drs McCann and theirs ... with no corresponding record of similar in-depth investigation into any of the rest of the phone traffic.

I am not insensitive to the enormity of that task ... and it was done to a degree as some individuals were asked to explain anomalies (people from the Millenium restaurant, I think in one instance?) and Heri working as an individual spotted others.  So an opportunity missed.

[sadie]

One of the main areas from which to gain intelligence in a modern day search is from phone traffic. 

I don't know, if Madeleine's had been a planned abduction involving more than one person, people would have been aware of the necessity for 'radio silence'. 
Eight years down the line they would certainly be aware and either not used the phone at all or in an emergency an untraceable Pay As You Go to be discarded immediately the job was done.

If any reliance can be placed on leaks to newspapers SY's interest was excited by certain phone pings which I think might have indicated short panic calls ~ perhaps as a result of unplanned abduction.

Heri goes into it in more detail ... http://espacioexterior.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/madeleine-mccann_7.html

You have raised the issue in your blog that there is a great deal of evidence in the files regarding phone traffic between Mr Murat and his associates and the Drs McCann and theirs ... with no corresponding record of similar in-depth investigation into any of the rest of the phone traffic.

I am not insensitive to the enormity of that task ... and it was done to a degree as some individuals were asked to explain anomalies (people from the Millenium restaurant, I think in one instance?) and Heri working as an individual spotted others.  So an opportunity missed.

Heri noticed lots of things that peeps on here are not aware of.

Very good analytical brain has Heri

[pathfinder73]

Thanks for this.

There are 3 rocky areas in Luz.  First is to the west of the little beach, which clearly is not indicated in this report.  Second is to the south of the church, extending to the main beach somewhat east.
Then there is some 300m of beach before rocks near the cliff.  These are crumbly and have warning signs of rockfalls.  The rocks extend to Black Rock and beyond.

I don't know whether it is relevant or not, but most of the holiday makers constantly explore the rocks near Black Rock for the simple reason that they are filled with pools of seawater, containing crabs, shellfish and some weirdy beardy horrible looking red things.

It is a free entertainment that keeps small kids entertained for hours at a stretch so it is very popular.

I must not mention the lady sunbathing topless.

I doubt that anyone did a proper search of any of the 3 sets of rocks that night.  Even if one had a torch, this is a leg-breaker.

Thanks the area from the church is the one that is of interest to me aka My Rocks.

[ShiningInLuz]

The rocks south of the church are problematical.  I cannot remember a single statement mentioning searching any of the rocky areas, nor do I know if anyone thought to shine a torch up the rainwater outlet in that particular area.

This is a case of 'no rocks unturned'?

If you are making Smithman move a body from the Smith sighting, however, your obstacles are the Chinese restaurant, another bar whose name escapes me, the rear entrance to the Cave Bar, the 24hr ATM, the Luz Tavern, the Ali Super convenience store, the Fortaleza, Chaplin's, the Marujo and two other restaurants south of the church.  I am reasonably confident all of these were open on the night at the time of Smithman, all generating pedestrian and vehicular traffic.

[sadie]

The rocks south of the church are problematical.  I cannot remember a single statement mentioning searching any of the rocky areas, nor do I know if anyone thought to shine a torch up the rainwater outlet in that particular area.

This is a case of 'no rocks unturned'?

If you are making Smithman move a body from the Smith sighting, however, your obstacles are the Chinese restaurant, another bar whose name escapes me, the rear entrance to the Cave Bar, the 24hr ATM, the Luz Tavern, the Ali Super convenience store, the Fortaleza, Chaplin's, the Marujo and two other restaurants south of the church.  I am reasonably confident all of these were open on the night at the time of Smithman, all generating pedestrian and vehicular traffic.

Endorsed about the various places to go past.

But this being Luz with it's mainly old people + very young families in early May, I wonder how many would have been around at 10pm?


You would know better than  me , Shining.


Over to you.

[ShiningInLuz]

Endorsed about the various places to go past.

But this being Luz with it's mainly old people + very young families in early May, I wonder how many would have been around at 10pm?


You would know better than  me , Shining.


Over to you.

May 2007 population breakdown. Let me see.

OC guests with a large number of kids.  Mark Warner tourists on half board so unlikely to be outside of OC restaurants. 

About a third not MW, as per Thomas Cook, minor operators, and owner bookings.  Obviously, I cannot say whether these folks were eating in or eating out, with any degree of certainty.

The Smiths were eating out.  There is one Portuguese chappie in the files who was eating out in Luz with his family at midnight, when he was called about the disappearance.

It's an interesting point.

Did all of these places stay open with no customers?  Or was there custom and no-one thought it was odd so they didn't mention it as significant?

June and Paul Wright. Duke of Holland.  One went earlier to help with the searches, while one stayed on until later, before also participating.  Perhaps the one who stayed behind thought clearing up was more important than a missing child.  I don't know.  I haven't asked them.

Repeat to Sadie.  It's an interesting point.  They were open, but were they busy?

[sadie]

May 2007 population breakdown. Let me see.

OC guests with a large number of kids.  Mark Warner tourists on half board so unlikely to be outside of OC restaurants. 

About a third not MW, as per Thomas Cook, minor operators, and owner bookings.  Obviously, I cannot say whether these folks were eating in or eating out, with any degree of certainty.

The Smiths were eating out.  There is one Portuguese chappie in the files who was eating out in Luz with his family at midnight, when he was called about the disappearance.

It's an interesting point.

Did all of these places stay open with no customers?  Or was there custom and no-one thought it was odd so they didn't mention it as significant?

June and Paul Wright. Duke of Holland.  One went earlier to help with the searches, while one stayed on until later, before also participating.  Perhaps the one who stayed behind thought clearing up was more important than a missing child.  I don't know.  I haven't asked them.

Repeat to Sadie.  It's an interesting point.  They were open, but were they busy?

Dunno Shining.

The Portuguese tend to eat later than Brits.  Was it during the school hols?  Cos older children might be taken out to eat later as might younger couples on their own.   I dont think that Luz is a popular resort for younger adults tho, unless they have young children ... and then they would try to be home earlier I think.

Old fogies like me prefer earlier sittings.

I think it depends on how many Portuguese would have been eating with their later eating habits.


Do the PT locals have a particular favourite eating and watering spot?  Or do they go to the tourist restaurants as well?

What do you think?

[ShiningInLuz]

Dunno Shining.

The Portuguese tend to eat later than Brits.  Was it during the school hols?  Cos older children might be taken out to eat later as might younger couples on their own.   I dont think that Luz is a popular resort for younger adults tho, unless they have young children ... and then they would try to be home earlier I think.

Old fogies like me prefer earlier sittings.

I think it depends on how many Portuguese would have been eating with their later eating habits.


Do the PT locals have a particular favourite eating and watering spot?  Or do they go to the tourist restaurants as well?

What do you think?

Primeiro de Maio is a holiday.  We had one heck of a lot of activity during the first week of May this year, but I don't know if that was a holiday, or even if it was, whether that was a driver in 2007.

There are some local favourites with PT locals, both for eating and drinking.  Decent Portuguese on Primeiro de Maio, another on Rua Direito, a third south of the church.  Probable watering hole is Rua Calheta at Fernandos.

PT tourists are different, as they have not worked out Luz.  They stop folks (including me) and ask questions.  Perhaps choice depends on cuisine type.  Luz had South African, English, Portuguese, Italian, Chinese and Indian at the time.  Perhaps it depends on price or recommendation.

PT local watering holes are more relevant.  I would guess (which means I have no evidence) that Tractorman was in Fernandos having a sociable time with his PT mates.  This flags up an issue.  Why should not a PT local have been a typically PT bar in Luz on the night Madeleine went missing?

Anyone saying Tractorman had no reason to be in Luz that night (whether he was or wasn't) is talking rubbish.

Still one heck of a lot of open bars, open restaurants for any walker to avoid on that evening.

[Brietta]

Primeiro de Maio is a holiday.  We had one heck of a lot of activity during the first week of May this year, but I don't know if that was a holiday, or even if it was, whether that was a driver in 2007.

There are some local favourites with PT locals, both for eating and drinking.  Decent Portuguese on Primeiro de Maio, another on Rua Direito, a third south of the church.  Probable watering hole is Rua Calheta at Fernandos.

PT tourists are different, as they have not worked out Luz.  They stop folks (including me) and ask questions.  Perhaps choice depends on cuisine type.  Luz had South African, English, Portuguese, Italian, Chinese and Indian at the time.  Perhaps it depends on price or recommendation.

PT local watering holes are more relevant.  I would guess (which means I have no evidence) that Tractorman was in Fernandos having a sociable time with his PT mates.  This flags up an issue.  Why should not a PT local have been a typically PT bar in Luz on the night Madeleine went missing?

Anyone saying Tractorman had no reason to be in Luz that night (whether he was or wasn't) is talking rubbish.

Still one heck of a lot of open bars, open restaurants for any walker to avoid on that evening.

We know that volunteer searchers gave selflessly of themselves when Madeleine was first found to be missing and in the following days.

I can find no record of the police either managing how the volunteers were used in the search or if a or if a search coordinator was appointed to keep records and to organise the volunteer search parties.

I agree that there is no reason to suspect anyone who may have been visiting one of the hostelries on the 3rd May. 

However, based on the information which led a future PJ investigation to Euclides Monteiro it should be a matter of regret for anyone in a position of authority in the initial investigation that the fresh evidence trail which was at hand in 2007 was not followed either to rule this man in or rule him out from the inquiry.

[Miss Taken Identity]

Why were they searching? were they looking for a 'missing' child who may have wandered by any chance? OR were they looking for an abductor with a child? would an abductor realy hang about to be found? where would the abductor hide in such a short timespan ( time line given and not verified by independant witneses)? Why were people calling her name? would an abductor let his/her/their/ abductee shout back?

They were looking for a missing child believed to have wandered. The abduction story came when a thought was given as to 'what will people say'...Indeed. they are still saying all these years later!

[John]

The search area appears to have been extremely large for a three-year-old who might have got out on her own and got lost.  The thinking must therefore have been something along the lines of she was taken, transported and then abandoned or she was found wandering, taken and abandoned or even she was run over whilst wandering and hidden outside the village.

I cannot see why anyone would take the risk of abducting a youngster from her bed only to discard her outside the village, it has no logic.

[Miss Taken Identity]

The search area appears to have been extremely large for a three-year-old who might have got out on her own and got lost.  The thinking must therefore have been something along the lines of she was taken, transported and then abandoned or she was found wandering, taken and abandoned or even she was run over whilst wandering and hidden outside the village.

I cannot see why anyone would take the risk of abducting a youngster from her bed only to discard her outside the village, it has no logic.

Yes John I agree, all are very credible theories, however it grew when the 'abduction, instead of 'missing' was mentioned. The PJ thought they were looking for a missing child not an abducted one, that may have been why the 'crime scene' was not cordened off?

[G-Unit]

We know that volunteer searchers gave selflessly of themselves when Madeleine was first found to be missing and in the following days.

I can find no record of the police either managing how the volunteers were used in the search or if a or if a search coordinator was appointed to keep records and to organise the volunteer search parties.

I agree that there is no reason to suspect anyone who may have been visiting one of the hostelries on the 3rd May. 

However, based on the information which led a future PJ investigation to Euclides Monteiro it should be a matter of regret for anyone in a position of authority in the initial investigation that the fresh evidence trail which was at hand in 2007 was not followed either to rule this man in or rule him out from the inquiry.

On Saturday 21.07.2007 I met with Major Luis Seqeuira, GNR Portimao who was the search coordinator for all search activity that was under taken in the physical search for Madeleine McCann.
Major Seqeuira has not benefited from any formal training or accreditation in the management of searching for missing persons. The search officers with the exception of the search and rescue team dispatched from Lisbon had not benefited from any formal training in search procedures. The teams available and deployed by Major Seqeuira were drawn from unit of the GNR, Civil Protection, Fire Brigade, Red Cross and Urban Police. Each team numbered
around 10 and between 80 to 100 personnel were involved in search activity.

The searches were based on a strategy of searching in "rescue and recovery mode? to locate the missing girl alive or if dead, not as a victim of crime. This search phase lasted for 7 days from the date M McCann went missing.
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/MARK_HARRISON.htm