Mark Harrison and the searches he recommended and took part in.

[ferryman]

He wasn't searching for someone who may or may not have been dead. His remit was to consider just one possibility;

This report considers solely the possibility that Madeleine McCann has been murdered and her body is concealed within the areas previously searched by Police in Zone 1 around Praia Da Luz.

Given that, all his investigations were undertaken with the aim of deciding and recommending where and how to search for her remains in one named zone. Nothing else.

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

Harrison offered to consider other possibilities or scenarios (sic) on request.

There is no evidence he was requested to do so.

[G-Unit]

Harrison wasn't asked to investigate whether or not there had been a murder. He was asked to advise on how and where to search for remains in Zone 1.

His opinion at the end of his final report isn't that he had no clue what had happened to Madeleine; probably because that wasn't a question he was asked.

His opinion was that if she had been murdered the remains were likely to have been disposed of in the ocean.
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/MARK_HARRISON.htm

[G-Unit]

Harrison offered to consider other possibilities or scenarios (sic) on request.

There is no evidence he was requested to do so.

No, he wasn't. So what?

[ferryman]

Harrison wasn't asked to investigate whether or not there had been a murder. He was asked to advise on how and where to search for remains in Zone 1.

His opinion at the end of his final report isn't that he had no clue what had happened to Madeleine; probably because that wasn't a question he was asked.

His opinion was that if she had been murdered the remains were likely to have been disposed of in the ocean.
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/MARK_HARRISON.htm

He would not have offered to investigate other possibilities or scenarios (sic) on request if he had drawn up a strategy of investigating 'murder'.

Nor did Harrison write his own terms of reference.

Initial Action
On Friday 20.07.2007 a request was made by the Portuguese Judicial Police to the NPIA for search advisory assistance. As a result of this the following terms of reference were produced.

Terms of reference to provide assistance to the Portuguese Judicial Police.

Harrison did not write his own terms of reference.

[G-Unit]

He would not have offered to investigate other possibilities or scenarios (sic) on request if he had drawn up a strategy of investigating 'murder'.

Nor did Harrison write his own terms of reference.

Harrison did not write his own terms of reference.

I do wish you'd make your mind up. Are you saying now that Harrison did not draw up a strategy for investigating murder? What did you mean when you said this then?

'Harrison was asked to 'investigate that Madeleine had been murdered but could, personally, find no evidence to corroborate that conclusion'

[mercury]

He would not have offered to investigate other possibilities or scenarios (sic) on request if he had drawn up a strategy of investigating 'murder'.

Nor did Harrison write his own terms of reference.

Harrison did not write his own terms of reference.

You're assuming other possibilities and scenarios means NOT MURDER rather than perhaps a study of murder and concealed further afield than the original remit distance wise

[ferryman]

In considering the two scenarios that Madeleine McCann has been murdered and her body disposed of by a person on foot or in a vehicle, I have reflected on the areas within zone 1 that have been previously searched or subject to forensic examination.

Mark Warner Creche at Praia Da Luz.

This is the location of the last confirmed sighting by a person independent of family members of Madeleine McCann. Although this location was within the original search area it may well benefit from a further search using enhanced detecting methods for human remains. This will depend on the size of any outside grounds and concealed areas inside the building.

McCann's Apartment.

The apartment in which the McCann's had stayed may present further
opportunities to search. The use of a specialist EVRD (Enhanced Victim
Recovery Dog) and CSI dog (human blood detecting dog) could potentially indicate on whether Madeline's blood is in the property or the scent of a dead body is present. In relation to the dead body scent if such a scent is indicated by the EVRD and no body is located it may suggest that a body has been in the property but removed. This search process could be repeated in all the apartments that were occupied by the friends holidaying with the McCann's.
Murat's House and Garden.

The property has been forensically examined to recover any surface trace evidence however the house and gardens may benefit from a fully invasive specialist search to preclude the presence of Madeleine McCann.
A method previously employed on similar cases has been to use the below assets.
Deploy the EVRD to search the house and garden to ensure Madeleine McCann's remains are not present. The dog may also indicate if a body has been stored in the recent past and then moved off the property, though this is not evidential merely intelligence.
Deploy the CSI dog to search the house to locate any human blood.
This will act in support of the forensic examination already completed.
An inhibiting factor will be on areas where Luminol has been used.


Page 2228 :

Deploy geophysical instruments in the house and garden to detect any burial of a body or concealment in voids.

These specialists should be supported by physical search teams exploring and accessing all areas where concealment of a child's body could be made typically 0.5m.

Murat's Vehicles.

All vehicles Murat has had access to have been forensically examined to recover any surface trace evidence however they may all benefit from a full search by the EVRD and CSI dogs. They may be able to detect whether a dead body has been transported in one of the vehicles for intelligence purposes or detect human blood deposits that can be recovered and
examined in a laboratory for Madeleine McCann's blood.

Open Area to East of Praia Da Luz.

This open area between the village urban limits and the Boavista golf club to the east and includes a plateau on which sits a trig point and mobile phone mast.
This area has been previously searched by officers and dogs walking through the area to check for Madeleine McCann's visible remains. However considering the new scenario of Homicide and concealed deposition this area affords many opportunities to dispose of a body. Within this area there are old empty properties, wells, thick vegetation, pockets of soft sand and natural fissures in the cliffs. Whilst there is no intelligence she is buried or concealed in this land it would be a natural place an offender may choose dose to the Village using the least effort principle. A proportionate response may therefore be considered to conduct a search of this area using a team of Victim Recovery Dogs (VRD) that are specifically trained to located concealed human remains.
Prior to undertaking this task it would be beneficial to consult with a Forensic Anthropologist with knowledge of this region of Portugal to give opinion as to the likely state of any remains to be found. Further research could also be conducted with regards to the natural scavenging predators in the area.

An inhibiting factor is that since the disappearance of the child an old empty house adjacent to the Trig Point on the Rocha Negra has been demolished and all rubble removed, If she was concealed within this property the search would be unlikely to detect her now.

Praia Da Luz Beach and Shoreline.

The beach and shoreline are bounded by high cliffs and shallow waters. The beach has fine granular sand and provides easy digging. However the beach is extensively used by tourists and locals and af?rds minimal areas of cover from view for concealment. It may be considered appropriate to use the VRD dog team supported by geophysical GPR to sweep the beach. This would be

Harrison later on goes on to explore the possibility of burial at *on the beach and explicitly rules it out

Harrison was handed a brief by the PJ to explore that Madeleine had been murdered.

That's all.

[slartibartfast]

Harrison later on goes on to explore the possibility of burial at sea and explicitly rules it out

Harrison was handed a brief by the PJ to explore that Madeleine had been murdered.

That's all.

Interesting when you look at the source of your quote...

In relation to the dead body scent if such a scent is indicated by the EVRD and no body is located it may suggest that a body has been in the property but removed.

Mark Harrison MBE
National Search Adviser
Homicide, Missing Persons, Mass Fatality Disasters
 
 
OP TASK Madeleine McCann
 
Search Activity 1 – 8 August 2007
 
 
This document follows on from the author’s two previous search documents and provides a summary of the search activity undertaken by the Policia Judiciaria (PJ) in Praia da Luz, Portugal between 20-07-07 and 10-08-07 following the authors search review and submission of his decision support documents.

Oh, and...

An EVRD dog received additional training on human cadavers which were buried on land and submerged underwater. This took place in America and facilitated by the FBI at the University of Tennessee.

[ferryman]

During the searches two Police dogs were deployed and although it has been stated that no physical remains were located in the area these dogs did give indications in several areas. These areas have been subject to a separate forensic examination that is beyond the scope of this report and at the time of writing laboratory tests are being undertaken. The dogs’ handler has submitted a separate report regarding the performance of the dogs (see appendix 4). However, it must be stated any such indications without any physical evidence to support them can not have any evidential value, being unconfirmed indications. Additionally I consider no inference can be drawn as to whether a human cadaver has previously been in any location without other supporting physical evidence.

Mark Harrison

[G-Unit]

9again)

Harrison later on goes on to explore the possibility of burial at sea and explicitly rules it out

Harrison was handed a brief by the PJ to explore that Madeleine had been murdered.

That's all.

/
I notice you make no attempt to answer earlier questions. Is that because you contradicted yourself?


I am currently of the opinion on the available information and statistical datasets that if death has occurred, that it is possible that Madeleine McCann’s body has been disposed into the sea at Praia da Luz.
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/MARK_HARRISON.

What do you mean by 'explore'? Harrison wasn't asked to explore, investigate, confirm or deny murder.

[Robittybob1]

9again)/
I notice you make no attempt to answer earlier questions. Is that because you contradicted yourself?


I am currently of the opinion on the available information and statistical datasets that if death has occurred, that it is possible that Madeleine McCann’s body has been disposed into the sea at Praia da Luz.
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/MARK_HARRISON.

What do you mean by 'explore'? Harrison wasn't asked to explore, investigate, confirm or deny murder.

And how would that be done in a practical way? 
1.  Have access to a boat and throw body overboard?

What other methods?

[G-Unit]

And how would that be done in a practical way? 
1.  Have access to a boat and throw body overboard?

What other methods?

Read the expert;
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/MARK_HARRISON.htm

[Mr Gray]

Read the expert;
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/MARK_HARRISON.htm

The expert who stated clearly that no inferences could be drawn from the alerts

[G-Unit]

The expert who stated clearly that no inferences could be drawn from the alerts

He did indeed, in his report dated 22nd August (quoted below). The interesting bit is what he said before the dogs alerted to all things McCann;

Report 23/07/2007
The apartment in which the McCann's had stayed may present further opportunities to search. The use of a specialist EVRD (Enhanced Victim Recovery Dog) and CSI dog (human blood detecting dog) could potentially indicate on whether Madeline's blood is in the property or the scent of a dead body is present. In relation to the dead body scent if such a scent is indicated by the EVRD and no body is located it may suggest that a body has been in the property but removed.

The apartment was searched on 31/07/2007 and the dogs alerted. The following day two new search warrants were requested for the McCann villa and hire car, the reason being the dog alerts in 5A.

Harrison claimed in his final report that he recommended all the searches undertaken. That suggests that inferences were drawn by him from the alerts in 5A.


Report 22/08/2007
During the searches two Police dogs were deployed and although it has been stated that no physical remains were located in the area these dogs did give indications in several areas. These areas have been subject to a separate forensic examination that is beyond the scope of this report and at the time of writing laboratory tests are being undertaken. The dogs’ handler has submitted a separate report regarding the performance of the dogs (see appendix 4). However, it must be stated any such indications without any physical evidence to support them can not have any evidential value, being unconfirmed indications. Additionally I consider no inference can be drawn as to whether a human cadaver has previously been in any location without other supporting physical evidence.
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/MARK_HARRISON.htm

[ferryman]

9again)/
I notice you make no attempt to answer earlier questions. Is that because you contradicted yourself?


I am currently of the opinion on the available information and statistical datasets that if death has occurred, that it is possible that Madeleine McCann’s body has been disposed into the sea at Praia da Luz.
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/MARK_HARRISON.

What do you mean by 'explore'? Harrison wasn't asked to explore, investigate, confirm or deny murder.

Harrison ruled out burial and tentatively concluded that if Madeleine was dead, it was most likely her remains were jettisoned into the sea.