They did search for Madeleine, they searched where she was known to go. They then waited for the Police. They went for interviews the following day. The Police took up the search which is what happens with all missing children. Fine for you to say that not searching because you are scared of what you might find is pathetic. So all parents of missing children who have felt like that are pathetic in your eyes. I doubt if you would say that if it was YOUR child that was missing.
The McCann's have always said there is no evidence that Madeleine is dead, they have every hope she is still alive.
In missing child cases where it is known what happened to the child and who the perpetrator is, the blameless parents have been subject to vile internet hate attacks while the lowlife child killers actually responsible are ignored to a large extent,
Don't bother with the instigators and the perpetrators of heinous crimes ... those who are the victims are easy meat and it is all their fault.
If it is discovered what happened to Madeleine in May 2007 it will never be the fault of the perpetrators as far as some are concerned. Even if the perpetrators are nailed without a shadow of a doubt in my opinion some will cling to the conspiracy theories ~ the cover-ups ~ or the friends in high places.
All very sad.