Madeleine

Yes it would - but the poor girl would be so confused and traumatised, however well she'd been treated since her abduction.

It is not impossible is it ? look what happened in The States not too long ago. God bless her wherever she is .

Her parents can never move on

It seems unlikely that anyone will disagree with the OP.

I think, however that it will be totally devastating if it is discovered she is dead, particularly as the new opinion seems to be that she was not murdered. I sincerely hope she is alive and well and has been loved by whoever took her, someone who must truly need some help, as do her parents who have suffered for so long. We can all hope that this story will have a happy ending, and that Madeleine and her family will be left in peace by the media.

Do they want to be left in peace? I think they have done all they can to keep the media interest alive, as most parents would.

The Met. have said they now have a list of 38 possible suspects!

And about a dozen of those are in the UK! (the list does not include the parents or anyone who knew her before she went missing)

It is good to have some hope.

JO8 have you read Kate McCann's book? I borrowed it from the library and it made me both cry and gnash me teeth in rage. Our press treated this poor couple so badly and were so unsympathetic and intrusive, just as long as they got a story or picture they didn't care. As for the police in Portugal, thank goodness I live here.
Sadly, I think in one way or another this little girl is lost to her parents forever.

Yes. And no doubt that is how the press would behave if she was, wonderfully, returned.

No, not read the book, but agree about the police over there. Could well have turned out so differently if our police had been in charge from the off.

I don't think there are 38 suspects, they are 'people of interest' which is a bit different. Also I don't think they are saying she was not murdered, they are saying there is no proof she was murdered.

Not sure there could ever be a really happy ending, the psychological effects on everyone could probably never be overcome but an ending would at least give them all a chance to move on. Any parent must feel for them and I'm so glad the police have not given up.

If she was sold to a paedophile ring, which the large number of persons to be interviewed seems to indicate, I am not sure that death would not be preferable. I am afraid I can't see any possible happy outcome. Even if she has been adopted, what kind of people would keep a child in those circumstances?

And whatever happened to Ben Needham - taken many years ago when he was a toddler on holiday in Greece- another little blonde blue eyed child.

The media do seem to take a very simplistic view of Madeleine's story. Should she by some miracle be found alive and, hopefully, unharmed it will not be an instant happy ending. There would have to be huge adjustments made on all sides. If she has not been kept as a paedophile's plaything she may well be living very happily with a new family and may have little memory of her previous life. She may have forgotten how to speak English. The McCanns could be faced with Madeleine wanting to know why they let her be taken away and although they have been trying to keep her memory alive for the twins they might not be best pleased to have a strange sister suddenly brought back into the family. The whole thing would be a minefield and it would probably take years to get back to a semblance of normality.

Well, I would still like to see her returned safe and sound to her parents!

Jingle, it goes without saying, or should, that we would all like to see that, but it is not realistic.

This is a completely pointless thread. No one would suggest that it would be best if the child were dead or remained with a bunch of abusive people. No one would want the parents to endure one more day of suffering. Okay - you are a nice, kind, empathetic, sympathetic person j08. We are all massively impressed with your sweet and loving nature.

Greatnan, shall we refrain from making this thread about any of us?

It would be good if we could express our hopes, as well as our theories on here. Wise as many gransnetters do seem to be.

Good grief!

What are you on about, jingle?

Bez that child in Greece could easily have wandered off and come to grief. Nobody knows he was "taken". There was lots of construction work going on nearby.

Actually, there are scenarios that I can imagine about poor Madeleine, where I would wish her dead rather than still alive. If she is being trafficked . It's an unbearable thought for her parents, but there might have been times when they thought that too. But mainly, they just need to know what happened to her, and of course they want her back. This is such a horrendous story

I think the walked off theory was discounted Jess his mother went back to the place for years still looking for him.

Technically speaking, couldn't Madeleine McCann have wandered off as well? I sympathise with the family of Ben Needham who had neither the money nor the profile to attract the same level of support as the McCanns. That's not to say that I don't wish Madeleine could be found, of course I do. But I believe she is dead.