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Two years on, how Madeleine McCann might look age six
Justin Davenport01.05.09
This is the extraordinary picture of Madeleine McCann as she might appear today — two years after she vanished while on holiday in Portugal.
Her parents Kate and Gerry released the computer-generated image on a poster in a desperate new attempt to trace their daughter. It was headed: “Don't give up on me”.
The image shows how Maddy would look aged six. Mrs McCann said that when she first saw the picture she said: “I did not know who that little girl is. She remains four years old in my mind.”
The “age progression image” was unveiled on the Winfrey's Fridays Live show during an Oprah Winfrey interview with the McCanns.
The computer-generated picture will be used in a fresh drive to find Madeleine.
Gerry and Kate McCann employed a forensic imaging artist from the United States' National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children to create a photographic impression of how Madeleine would probably look today.
The artist had access to photographs of both Kate and Gerry at around the same childhood age and used the latest computer technology to create the new image from their paternal and maternal lines.
In a highly emotional interview the McCanns spoke on the second anniversary of the youngster's disappearance and released the image showing Madeleine as she might look aged six, although Mrs McCann said: “I only remember Madeleine when she was four.”
They spoke about how the girl's bedroom had been kept ready for her return and Mrs McCann told how she visits the room at least twice a day, “just to say hello to Madeleine”.
In the image Madeleine's face appears thinner than before and her hair is slightly darker, though her blue eyes remain the same.
It will be two years on Sunday since she vanished from a holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, Portugal, shortly before her fourth birthday.
The McCanns, from Rothley in Leicestershire, still believe there is “a very real likelihood” Madeleine is alive and well. In the interview, Ms Winfrey asked them: “Do you let yourself go to the worst?”
Mrs McCann replied: “I think it's natural. I know people mean well when they say don't let yourself go there, but as a mum, inevitably there are times when I do. And they're the times that I kind of dip down.”
The interviewer asked them about their marriage. Mr McCann said: “Child abduction, I think, could destroy any family. It's one of the most devastating things. But we've been supported tremendously well and I think that's helped us stay strong and stay together. We're really united in our goal and our love of Madeleine and Sean and Amelie.”
Mrs McCann said she keeps Madeleine's room ready for her return and that she goes in there about twice a day.
“Do you talk to her?” asked Oprah.
Mrs McCann replied: “Just [to] say hello, really. Just [to] tell her we're still going to do everything we can to find her.”
The couple are determined to put to good use the media spotlight attracted by the second anniversary of Madeleine's apparent abduction, with the age progression picture, the interview and a Channel 4 documentary.
The couple were buoyed by the news earlier this week that EU funding had been set aside for the Europe-wide alert system for missing children that they had campaigned for.
They hope for another boost in the coming days, in the form of a substantial response to their release of the image. They plan to spend Sunday in private.
The latest bid to trace Madeleine came as criminologist Mark Williams-Thomas claimed that the girl was probably taken as she went looking for her parents, who were eating with friends at a nearby tapas bar.
He said it was unlikely that a kidnapper had gone into the holiday flat and that Madeleine may have been snatched by an opportunistic paedophile.
Reader views (4)
I can remember reading about child trafficking in Europe over 40 years ago; so nothing has changed.
What needs to be changed is the sentencing of child violators, and killers; they should be imprisoned for their natural lives; if they are not, then other children will continue to be murdered and abused by the same guilty adults; the human rights of innocent children should always take priority and precedence over guilty adults.
There but for the grace of god; go all parents; not just the McCann’s.
Every Society in the World; should defend their children with all force possible; to do any less; is to all our shames.
Child abusers are the biggest cowards, vilest perverts, and the vilest of all human beings; once these people premeditatedly go about hunting children for their own gratification; they cease to be a part of humanity and the human race; and they have no rights to human justice or any human rights at all.
Those that let abusers free to violate children again; are just as guilty of the child’s violation, as the perverts are; it is they that free the guilty to attack again.
- Mickyinlondon, london
What has this sick picture speculation got to do with london ?
- Michael, Kensington, UK
This story is as heartbreaking today as it was the first day little Madeleine went missing. Reading what Kate told Oprah is so sad, every mother will feel for her. They did nothing most parents haven't done at some point on holiday.
- Jean Rodgers, falkirk,CENTRAL SCOTLAND
with all due respect to Mr Williams-Thomas I don´t think he has had much experience of tracing missing children outside of the UK. There is no way that Sussex can be compared to the Costas of either Spain or Portugal nowadays. There has been an unprecedented amount of highly organised crime in these places during the last 10 years since I have lived here. Child trafficking has increased. Draw your own conclusions.
- Rosemary, javea spain
