Continued from page 3

Stolen in the Night

Originally posted Thursday May 17, 2007 12:00 PM EDT

Fans at a London soccer match on May 13 showed their support for the McCanns. Photo by: Dylan Martinez / Landov

The McCanns emphasized how much they appreciated everything being done on their behalf. "[We] will leave no stone unturned in the search for our daughter," said Gerry at one news conference. "We are very grateful for all the efforts and offers of support that we have had from home and from around the world." All the same, supporters of the McCanns wondered whether police could have deployed more officers the first night to search for Madeleine – a charge Portuguese authorities likewise dismissed.

Investigators admitted that they had no idea whether Madeleine was alive or dead. They had received no ransom demand, and they were operating on the possibility that she may have been abducted for the purpose of sexual abuse. At press time police had questioned many people, but only formally declared one man a suspect: a 33-year-old British citizen living near the resort with his mother. Officials released him anyway – and it wasn't clear what connection, if any, he might have with the case. All of which only increased the sense of tension and dread. "We're just praying and praying and praying," says the youngster's grandmother Susan Healy, "and hoping that we'll get Madeleine back."

• By Bill Hewitt. Reported by Margaret Roberts in Portugal, Sara Hammel in Lucerne, Ellen Tumposky in London and Courtney Rubin in Rothley

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