[Yudster]

You think? Oh - well, I meant it as a compliment. Leonardo did loads of protraits of her and I think she was lovely.

[Zoot]

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/pressass/20070 ... 23e80.html

My god I hope its a false lead

[MK Chris]

I just read similar on BBC, but it just refers to a letter detailing her location, not whether she's dead or alive.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6749131.stm

It seems very suspicious, sounds like someone has had a sudden attach of conscience.

[Nicola_Red]

Once reward money is on the table, it must become much more difficult for the authorities to take any informants seriously. Also look what happened with the guy arrested last year after confessing to the murder of JonBenet Ramsey - turned out to be just the product of his twisted imagination.

[foot-loose]

I read an article yesterday that there had been a phonecall from someone saying they knew where she was.

Not seen that on the BBC tho.

[Yudster]

The phonecall rumour was false, the Portugese police said it never happened. I just wish that little baby girl could have her mummy back. Thinking about what she must be thinking and going through if she's alive, it might almost be better if she is dead. And no, I really don't mean that, but you know what I mean.

[MK Chris]

Ah, they've updated the article on the BBC now:

The paper said that the letter claims Madeleine, of Rothley, Leicestershire, is buried "north of the road under branches and rocks, around six to seven metres off the road".

Beside a cross and two question marks, the sender has written "vermoedelijke vindplaats Madeleine" - the place where Madeleine can probably be found.

Also rather worrying if true:

It [the letter] strongly resembles another letter sent to the same newspaper last year, accurately pinpointing where two missing Belgian girls were buried.

....

Dutch police are studying similarities between the new letter and one received by De Telegraaf pointing to the whereabouts of Belgian step-sisters Stacey Lemmens, seven, and Nathalie Mahy, 10.

The girls were murdered in June 2006 after they disappeared from a late-night fair in the town of Liege.

On the day that the letter was received, police found their bodies at the spot indicated on an enclosed map.

A convicted paedophile, Abdullah Ait Oud, is now on remand awaiting trial for murder.

The Telegraaf believes the letter comes from the same sender because the phrase "vermoedelijke vindplaats" was also used in the tip-off letter last year about Stacey and Nathalie, BBC correspondent Alix Kroeger added.

[Yudster]

Even if its not the completion that they want, on some level or another it would still be better than not knowing. Might have to dig pretty hard to get to that level though I'm guessing.

[Ballbag]

The poor little girl, for having such dick head parents.

[Yudster]

One way to look at it. Possibly about as accurate a representation of reality as the depiction of them as selfless saints.

[Ballbag]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6751189.stm

This really irritates me, so the can whore themselves to the press for weeks and weeks, all over the world getting publicity for the search for their daughter (due to their stupidity), and yet this letter should not have been made public.

I'm really sorry but the McCanns are doing my tits in, you can't have it both ways.

[Yudster]

I do know what you mean.

[Nicola_Red]

Me too. The matter of my building collecting for the charity was brought up at the employee consultation meeting on the grounds of does it not contradict with our policies, with us being a charitable trust ourselves. Strangely enough, the policy document was found to have been modified recently by our director. In other words, what she says goes...*sigh*

[Gaspode_The_Wonder_Dog]

Get a grip bag for balls. No one can claim to be faultless in life but I would have less respect for them if they weren't doing everything possible for their daughter now they are in this situation.

some of you need to wake up a bit.

[Nicola_Red]

No one can claim to be faultless in life but I would have less respect for them if they weren't doing everything possible for their daughter now they are in this situation.

of course they are. but you must understand the relevance here of the phrase 'closing the stable door after the horse has bolted'.

[Gaspode_The_Wonder_Dog]

Yes but they know that and its been put to them in interviews. They made a mistake but some of you come across as pathetic and heartless.

[Nicola_Red]

I dunno Gaspy. I do feel for them. I just find it really, really difficult to get past the fact that they left their children alone. I cannot fathom it.

[Yudster]

They did - but they left their children alone in a situation which was in their experience and informed judgement safe. They made a massive mistake and they will pay for it more dearly than any of us can imagine.

[Gaspode_The_Wonder_Dog]

I understand that but at the end of the day they were stupid. Theres parents do far worse everyday and don't have to face the horror they are going through.

I am sure at some point I will make a terrible error in judgement in my life. I hope the consequences aren't so severe.

[MK Chris]

I understand that but at the end of the day they were stupid. Theres parents do far worse everyday and don't have to face the horror they are going through.

That's very true. I know I have been critical but you make an extremely good point and I do, of course, feel unbelievably sorry for them.

[Yudster]

The consequences rarely fit the error though. Far smaller errors have resulted in the worst outcomes, look at James Bulger. That really was a case of turn your back for a few seconds.
Of course they were stupid. I just can't be that judgemental when they are already facing the ultimate punishment. I just wish it were different.

[Ballbag]

Yes but they know that and its been put to them in interviews. They made a mistake but some of you come across as pathetic and heartless.

Perhaps Gas man I do come across as heartless, but I am far from that, if anything I'm angry that they were so stupid, and that it's going to affect that poor girl in the most extreme way. I'm also annoyed at the attention this has got when so many other people go missing every day. It's just a classic example of white woman syndrome.

I know, as you said, we all make mistakes. But there's making mistakes, and there's being irresponsible.

[DemonHorse]

I'm also annoyed at the attention this has got when so many other people go missing every day. It's just a classic example of white woman syndrome.

Agreed

PostPosted: Fri May 18, 2007 1:10 pm

A lot of valid points here. How come we don't get this every time someone goes missing is my question. How is this different to any other missing child case?

[Gaspode_The_Wonder_Dog]

So because it doesn't happen every time its their fault?

[Yudster]

I'm not convinced that the UK is full of missing three year old's that we haven't heard about.