The parents of missing child Madeleine McCann appear to speak out every time one of these sightings take place. The child has been missing for several years with the evidence as it's published pointing directly to parental negligence at the very least, so why do the parents of the missing child continue jump into the spotlight anytime the girl's name is mentioned?
The case of this child's disappearance is still openly investigated thanks to the madness that has ensued since the day the little girl vanished. In high-profile cases alleged "sightings" occur all over the world whether the case makes sense for this to occur or otherwise. It's a type of mass hysteria that grips the public whenever a social fascination locks onto a missing person case or other "train wreck in motion."
However, it's still a slight (very slight) possibility that Madeleine McCann is still alive, and an even slighter chance that she's been spotted even a quarter of the times that have been reported.
If you want to know more about the disappearance of the British tot, check out the case files compiled by criminal profiler Pat Brown. This woman is as sharp as a tack with a keen eye for detail and behavioral tells. She's kept a close eye on this girl's case and an equally close eye on the child's parents.
Crime analyst and profiler Chelsea Hoffman can be found on The Huffington Post, Chelsea Hoffman: Case to Case and many other outlets. Follow @TheRealChelseaH on Twitter or click here to contact Chelsea directly.
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Comments: 19
I believe they were silly to leave 3 children alone. But then, the whole group of them (3 x families) were doing so each night of their holiday. It obviously passes for careful parenting in their circles... I would never have done it.
However, I do not believe they were involved in the death and/or abduction of their child. They have tirelessly fund-raised for the past 4 plus years. They have spent millions of pounds of their own money and funds raised by well-wishers in the UK.
I think the Portugese investigations were, at best shambolic, at worst - negligent. The Scotland Yard enquiry is working with a new Portugese invesigation team which is based in the north of Portugal in the city of Porto. The Scot Yd spokesman was walking on eggshells and preferred not to speak on behalf of the Portugese investigators, but said they were 'consulting' together.
I do hope that the wee girl is alive. After all, there have been plenty of instances in the USA where nutters took young children off the street and they turned up safe (if not sound) many years later.
The parents were nothing more than negligent in the disappearance of their daughter, and so were the Portuguese police in the investigation.
One thing in all this stands out and it is the continual insistence from both parents to keep this investigation on going spending millions doing so. Every working day these parents work at keeping this disappearance in the spot light. I would imagine it would be nigh impossible for a guilty person or persons to do this.
Don't you think a guilty person or persons would after a year let it all die down and get on with their lives? I know if I had anything to do with what this so-called profiler is implying I would. I would Just slink away into the far an distant future and keep my head down.
She's a foreigner. She knows little of the circumstances. YET - she feels able to make sweeping statements.
You and she may be in the same business. I don't believe it's an exact science. It seems to be based on conjecture and 'maybes'. Neither of you are entertaining me, that's for sure.
And again, nobody is here to entertain you. Why would you want to be entertained by a missing child case? Seems a little sick to me.
That certainly seems more than a little sick to me.
Geography and inside knowledge would certainly make a difference to that lady's site, I'm sure.
and I forgot that the "entertained" public has more information than someone who has worked with detectives on these cases and traveled to points of interest. yup. That insider info that only nobodies have. Silly me.
If and when you or someone close to you becomes a victim, I certainly hope you're not offended by how "entertained" some people get by those misfortunes. Because I'm sure the McCann's are probably used to people like you by now -- people who want to be "entertained" by the disappearance and possibly unspeakably horrible death, of their little daughter. (that is... if they're really victims themselves, right) And people like me are used to people like you as well. People who think that coverage and raised awareness of crimes are to serve as your "entertainment."
And your sociopathic and out of touch point of view that being in law enforcement is far sicker than being entertained by the potential kidnapping, rape, murder and no telling what else of a little kid.
Good for you. Your family must be proud.
I do not wish to be 'entertained' by the tragedy that the McCanns have suffered. And people like you? That write tripe about familial tragedies? You are ghouls.
The idea that a middle aged, academic from the UK is a sociopath proves just how limited your knowledge really IS.
I've read a number of your 'articles' - particularly those regarding the Kercher murder and have agreed with your views - particularly when you have to deal with the numpties and weirdoes who lambast you.
No more.
Oh, and my family are VERY proud of me and what I've achieved. As I've said, you know NOTHING about me.
P.s. -- sociopathy isn't negated by education and geography. The fact that you'd assume you couldn't be a sociopath simply because you're british, middle aged and have an education, shows that your education certainly wasn't in psychology. Not saying you're not educated or intelligent, but psychology is obviously NOT your field.
Like I said, I'm sure they're (your family) very proud of you....who wouldn't be proud of a relative who wants to be "entertained" by the gruesome crime stories of victims? It's in your own words. You expressed publicly that those who are sharing these cases to keep them public are "not entertaining you" enough..
Do you deny that? Quickly, delete your posts.
I think it does take a sociopath to be entertained by these cases. It would take a level of apathy to be "entertained" by the abduction and murder of a child -- apathy being one of the primary symptoms of sociopathy.
I've meant no offense to you, but I find the fact that you expect to be "entertained" disgusting and even more disgusting that you find that desire to be entertained more "moral" than actually going out there and aiding in the solution of crimes. That indicates that you have more respect for murderers than those who lock them up, by YOUR words. Not mine. YOU'RE the one who commented that you weren't being entertained enough. Not me.
I don't find this "entertaining" at all.
I find it sad.
You, in fact, were the one to bring up the idea of 'enterainment'. Your comment timed 2.08.
Chelsea Hoffman Apr 26, 2012, 2:08pm EDT
That's the beauty of being a criminal profiler -- we don't do it to impress anyone. We do it to help victims of crime and future victims of crime; not to entertain people, especially people who aren't helping in the industry themselves.
You wrote geography does not make much of a difference in this. Well I am sorry to tell you of course it does. Both you and that other person have not sat down with the McCann’s or any of the other suspects, you have just seen glimpses of them on the television and read what the rest of us have read from the tabloids press. Yet both of you presume to tell others this side of the Atlantic their business.
Until you and that, other person come over a sits down and reads the full transcripts of the evidence and sit and interview both the McCann’s face to face it would be best for both you and that other person to keep their mouths shut on matters that don't concern you both. I would imagine that there is quite enough child crime in your country to keep you both busy for quite some time.
Moreover, to accuse someone of being a sociopath without even knowing the person actually takes some beating. If you are talking of someone being sociopath on the evidence of them writing a few comments or articles then the same can be said of you yourself.
Manipulative and Conning
They never recognize the rights of others and see their self-serving behaviors as permissible. They appear to be charming, yet are covertly hostile and domineering, seeing their victim as merely an instrument to be used. They may dominate and humiliate their victims.
This is what you have done on many occasions including the comment aimed at Ishbel.
Lack of Remorse, Shame or Guilt
A deep seated rage, which is split off and repressed, is at their core. Does not see others around them as people, but only as targets and opportunities. Instead of friends, they have victims and accomplices who end up as victims. The end always justifies the means and they let nothing stand in their way.
We see this in most of your articles when people disagree with you.
Poor Behavioural Controls/Impulsive Nature
Rage and abuse, alternating with small expressions of love and approval produce an addictive cycle for abuser and abused, as well as creating hopelessness in the victim. Believe they are all-powerful, all-knowing, entitled to every wish, no sense of personal boundaries, and no concern for their impact on others.
We see you rage and abuse people in most of your comments, and you certainly have no concern of the impact that it has on people or you would cease.
You will undoubtedly not perceive that what I have written has anything to do with you. And that's another trait associated with Sociopaths.
Only rarely in difficulty with the law, but seeks out situations where their tyrannical behaviour will be tolerated, condoned, or admired. Is that why you write on Gather where your behaviour is tolerated, and even condoned and admired by certain sections of people?
Being "impressed" or "entertained" by these sad cases -- or at least demanding that you BE impressed or entertained.
Is sick.
the end.
Eyes for Lies and I agree about the McCanns. Madeleine was stolen.
http://blog.eyesforlies.com/2007/05/madeline-mccanns-parents.html
When you become a parent, you will understand why the parents speak out about their daughter every chance they can. While I agree that it was negligent to leave the 3 little kids alone that night (I have a child and would never do that), it seems that Maddy was abducted. The parents look devastated all the time and have been actively searching for her for years. What's sick is that you don't know the truth about this case (no one knows what really happened), yet you choose to write these articles implying that the parents are guilty. Don't you think they feel awful enough already?