Madeleine disappeared in Portugal nearly nine years ago, just days before her fourth birthday, and officers have continued to hunt for her ever since.

Today the head of Scotland Yard's homicide squad insisted there is 'always a possibility' that the girl will be discovered safe and well as he justified the ongoing operation.

He said Scotland Yard will continue to seek funding for as long as possible.

The detective in charge of the search for Madeleine McCann said today that police still believe the missing girl could be found alive.

Madeleine disappeared in Portugal nearly nine years ago, just days before her fourth birthday, and officers have continued to hunt for her ever since.

Earlier this month Home Secretary Theresa May granted the Metropolitan Police £95,000 so they could continue the search for Madeleine, codenamed Operation Grange, for six more months.

'There is always a possibility that we will find Madeleine and we hope that we will find her alive.'

'That's what we want and that's what the family and the public want and that is why the Home Office continue to fund it.'

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...mments-3546099

I really wish that she ends up being found alive but it just seems like they need a modern day miracle at this stage to find her dead or alive.

This case annoys me so much, if it'd had been a teenage couple who'd been out clubbing and left their kids, they'd have been torn to shreds and probably prosecuted, but because they're a pair of doctors they've been allowed to leach of the taxpayers and play the victims at the same time

I hope they find her alive one day but yeah...they parents probably did it.

still ....one of the biggest mysteries
i hope she's alive and well and not being abused or anything god forbid

i just pray one day she will be reunited with her family, but it would be weird for her
still the McCan's have gone through hell with this

This poor girl is dead. They will have spent something like £12m of taxpayers money on this case at the end of the year, most missing children get a couple dozen thousand.. just because the parents were white and upper class and the case has racked up so much media attention. It's time to drop it

They were given another £2m to be spent this year ALONE on the case. It's utterly ridiculous.

It's true, no point denying it. Por examplé, say Steve and Melanie are holidaying in Marbella with their kids, taking a break from their shelf-stacking jobs. They don't make use of the babysitting services available despite repeated warnings that they should, leading to a child going missing.

They would be dragged/prosecuted.

Not meeting the Pope, the prime minister, hiring PR gurus and getting off scot-free.

....play the victims? They ARE the victims

Although what they did was stupid AF, it's still a very, very, very sad story.

I honestly believe that little girl is gone but it would be a miracle if she is still alive consisering most kidnapped kids are killed during the first 48 hours.

This is true

I do feel bad for them tho but at the same time what were they thinking leaving their small kids alone, esp when their hotel room backed on to a road.

The girl is dead. Sad to say it I know but after all the resources they've had access to, if they haven't found her alive after 9 years then they never will.

It's just so weird how they haven't found a body though...

I had never ever heard about this story but it's been 9 years already, she won't appear, the chances are very slim.

It's just sad and far too drawn out at this point.

Poor little girl.

*McCann (thread title)

OT: I genuinely think she's dead at this point.

Thank you!

she must be dead, there's no way she could be alive after all this time

i just find it so curious that they haven't found a body, even if you buy into the conspiracy that her parents killed her

Even if she were alive, she wouldn't be the same. Trying to reunite her with her family after nearly a decade of being apart, probably being used as a sexual slave, it's not like it would be some happy ending. It's probably better if she's dead sadly

This story still makes me so upset even thinking about what she could be going through right now.