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Cops Investigating Disappearance Of Madeleine McCann Issued Weird Blank-Faced Sketch

Cops Investigating Disappearance Of Madeleine McCann Issued Weird Blank-Faced Sketch

The new Netflix eight-part docu-series spoke to a man who claims cops showed locals an odd sketch of a suspected kidnapper

Claire Reid

Claire Reid

Police investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann in Portugal released a blank-faced sketch of a person suspected of the kidnap, according to a new Netflix documentary.

As you're probably already aware, the streaming giant has just dropped the eight-part docu-series The Disappearance of Madeleine McCann, which will be taking a look at the case.

In the second episode, viewers are shown a drawing of an oval, with no features and a sweeping fringe, which the documentary claims is similar to the sketch locals were shown by Portuguese cops back in 2007 when they were looking for a kidnap suspect.

A British business owner described the drawing as like 'an egg with a side-parting'. Simon Russell copied the sketch which he said police showed him in the days following the little girl's disappearance.

This drawing was made from memory by Brit Simon Russell back in 2007, after being shown it by cops working on the case.
PA

"I smiled when they showed it to me," he said. "What else could you do?"

The documentary shows former detective Goncalo Amaral, who was removed from the case in 2007, saying police did a 'minimal investigation' of the Praia da Luz holiday apartment Maddie disappeared from.

He said: "We inspected the place as if it had been a robbery. It is what you might call the most 'minimal' inspection in terms of detail."

He added: "We came as soon as it was communicated to us. Well, not right away. We arrived after the National Republic Guard, who also got there late.

"The GNR were notified late and this lateness triggered a delay to the sequence of evidence."

The Netflix show also shares poignant, rarely-seen footage of three-year-old Madeleine stepping onto the plane that flew her and her family out to Portugal.


In the clip, filmed in April 2007, she can be seen dressed all in pink as she climbs the stairs to board the flight at East Midlands Airport. It was initially shared by parents Kate and Gerry weeks after she vanished, but has resurfaced in this new documentary, which was made without input or support from Maddie's family.

Elsewhere in the documentary, it is claimed little Maddie may have been taken by people traffickers and that she could still be alive somewhere.

Ernie Allen, head of the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children in the US, told the filmmakers: "There are many, many cases we can point to in which children have been found, have come home alive, after months, after years.

"There have been cases in the United States in which witnesses, people who have information haven't come forward for decades, and then one day provide information that helps lead to the resolution of the case."

Kate and Gerry have previously spoken out to say they didn't take part in or support the new documentary.

In a statement, they said: "We are aware that Netflix are planning to screen a documentary in March 2019 about Madeleine's disappearance.

"The production company told us that they were making the documentary and asked us to participate.

"We did not see - and still do not see - how this programme will help the search for Madeleine and, particularly given there is an active police investigation, it could potentially hinder it.

"Consequently, our views and preferences are not reflected in the programme.

"We will not be making any further statements or giving interviews regarding this programme."

The Disappearance of Madeleine McCann is on Netflix now.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: UK News, TV and Film, UK Entertainment, Netflix