A Terrible Twist in the Madeleine Story

I haven’t mentioned anything about the disappearance of the British toddler from a Portuguese hotel room because I always feel terrible about such things and I like to avoid getting totally depressed if I can. The little girl, Madeleine McCann, was reported abducted on May 5th while her parent ate dinner at a restaurant near the hotel.

Now it appears that the Portuguese police have declared the mother, Kate McCann, an “arguida.” Under Portuguese law an arguido (arguida in this case because it’s a female) is an official suspect in an investigation. Apparently Portuguese police can now ask a wider range of questions and the suspect has additional legal protections. There are rumors that the father, Gerry McCann, is also about to be declared an official suspect.

Being an aguido does not mean that formal charges are about to follow. As a matter of fact, according to several news agencies, it’s not at all unusual for someone to request being declared an aquido in order to trigger the additional legal protections.

Supposedly the police took this step because of forensic test results from a British crime lab that claim the girl’s blood was found in a vehicle rented by the McCanns 25 days AFTER the girl disappeared.

First of all, let’s all remember that everyone is innocent until proven guilty and nothing has been proven as yet. None of the news accounts relate how the crime lab determined that it was Madeleine’s blood so I think I’ll reserve judgment. I still remember the stampede to condemn JonBenet Ramsey’s mom of murder when the lady was completely innocent. Then there is the case of Darlie Routier, who may have been railroaded by voodoo science and character assassination when she was convicted of murdering her two young sons.

In this particular case the police appear to be speculating that Madeleine’s death was an accident rather than murder but still this is a bizarre twist to a story that has been headlines in all of western civilization outside of the self-centered U.S.

The McCanns have engaged in a wide ranging media campaign across Europe in search of their daughter. This has included some high profile support from people like Pope Benedict XVI, Harry Potter author J. K. Rowling and soccer star David Beckham. Pictures of the missing girl would melt ice off of a snow witch she’s so adorable so if it turns out these two did anything to hurt her, they’ll probably re-institute burning at the stake in the U.K.

Like I said, it’s a totally unexpected twist even though, unfortunately, when something happens to a child suspicion invariably falls upon the parents. Clearly I have no way of judging guilt or innocence here, but you would have to be some kind of total moron to engage in the high profile activities the McCanns have engaged in if you’re trying to hide your involvement in the girl’s death wouldn’t you? Why do I have this really bad feeling that things are going to get very ugly very quickly on this one?

All I can do is hope that Madeleine shows up tomorrow, alive and well, and puts the whole thing to bed.