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[quote=MsAnnThrope;24174269]In both cases, those who are the most experienced at dealing with these situations (LE) were immediately suspicious of the parents, largely because they did not behave as grieving parents do./QUOTE]
How exactly are grieving parents supposed to behave. We have seen it all from the Susan Smith to the Smarts to the Ramseys to Casey Anthony to Baby Lisa's parents to the McCanns. There is no script for this and I don't think anyone of us could say exactly how we would behave if something tragic happened to one of our kids. I can't judge...
In both cases, those who are the most experienced at dealing with these situations (LE) were immediately suspicious of the parents, largely because they did not behave as grieving parents do./QUOTE]
How exactly are grieving parents supposed to behave. We have seen it all from the Susan Smith to the Smarts to the Ramseys to Casey Anthony to Baby Lisa's parents to the McCanns. There is no script for this and I don't think anyone of us could say exactly how we would behave if something tragic happened to one of our kids. I can't judge...
It's not my judgement they have to worry about...it was LE's.
At the end of the day, any psychiatrist will tell you there are certain ways people react to grief, from extreme hysteria (probably me) to stunned disbelief, and while they may differ the one thing observers are left in NO DOUBT about is that the grief exists.
When LE pick up on an unnatural reaction, it is a red flag that the person is being deceitful.
Its not live chat no, but you MsAnnThrope, and others, I hope you are happy with yourself. Yes the McCanns were wrong to leave their child alone even though they weren't far, but if you think accusing them of involvement in their childs disappearance and probable murder without one single shread of circumstantial evidence, never mind real evidence, is a fair, balanced and thought out opinion well that says more about you than them to be honest with you.
I think everyone comparing this to JonBenet Ramsey's parents/killing, etc should really take a step back and think for a moment. Before jumping to the conclusion, the parents had something to do with it, everyone said the same thing about the Ramsey's. People were POSITIVE they were guilty. Well of course, now we KNOW they had nothing to do with it. Yes, it is fishy, their lack of personal responsibility, etc however, don't be so quick to jump the gun and convict them.
Seriously! The parents had nothing to do with it. Go on youtube and watch the mother in bits, shaking and with no clue where her daughter is you can't "act" like that. I have always found it tasteless at best that people are suspicious of the parents in this case, the British police and media (who I personally trust more than the Portuguese police and media) don't think the parents have anything to do with it. How sad I feel for them, their daughter is missing and probably dead and people still insist on gossiping and accusing them of being involved. Innocent until proven guilty anyone?
I agree, there isn't any real evidence against the parents, other than suggestions made by a corrupt and incompetent Portugese police officer.
Which is why the case should be re-examined but this time by professionals from law enforcement agencies such as Scotland Yard.
Beyond me why people think it is okay to leave kids with no supervision so they can go party with friends. No babysitters available in hotel? They could not have ordered room service?
I think it was the parents as well...
I live a few km from where the disappearance took place.
I don't know that I feel it was the parents, but their behavior was very reckless. They are both doctors, and they are successful and live well in England. British people living in the community and familiar with the resort complex have told me that it had a baby sitting service that guests could arrange for.
However, they chose to leave two two-year olds and a three-year old alone while they ate out with friends. They are people with a very good income, they had local friends, they were in a sophisticated resort facility...and though they were in Portugal, they were in a complex run by Irish people, the complex was heavily patronized by English and Irish, and the local community has a very, very large English expat population - there was no way they could not easily have arranged in the English language for a responsible sitter, either one known by the hotel or by their local friends.
Why in the name of Pete did they pinch pennies in this way, and leave such small children alone? It so boggles my mind that I have never been able to get beyond that fact. It is incredible that well-educated people with dough would do this.
The investigation became a carnival side-show after the UK gutter press descended on the town. A local British man was helping the police with translating, etc. when one of the Brit reporters managed to convince the police that this fellow was too interested in helping, too interested in being on the scene; therefore, he must be really trying to see that they didn't uncover anything that would help them....like, you guessed, the fact HE DID IT!!!!!
And the police went for it, the UK press had a field day with slimey inuendoes that this guy was a weirdo, that he was a perve, etc.etc.
After weeks and wasted weeks of chasing down baseless accusations about this guy, the police finally realized that it was a crock, the guy had been as helpful and harmless as he had seemed.
His life here, and that of his mother, were destroyed. Fortunately he got a fat juicy settlement when he sued the rag that started all these rumors and printed wild invented stories about him. But his life and reputation he did not get back, and also the guy who fixed his computer even got dragged into it because there were baseless accusations that guy #1 was into kiddie porn and this other guy would know it from fixing the computer. And then the paper printed the accusation that guy #2, whom I know, had a record for a sexual crime with a minor in the past.
So, now the UK papers were writing about two perves, not just one....baseless. Guy #2 never had such a charge made against him. He too collected from the paper.
This went on for weeks, and then attention turned to the parents. The lead Portuguese detective (I believe he was the lead) remained convinced that the parents were responsible. Ultimately the UK police got involved, but any trail...and there seemed to be none, would have been long gone cold. And with two police forces involved there was friction, contradictions, etc.
It seems hopeless at this point, but if the police are willing to continue working on the case it seems like a good idea.
Seriously! ....the British police and media (who I personally trust more than the Portuguese police and media) don't think the parents have anything to do with it. How sad I feel for them, their daughter is missing and probably dead and people still insist on gossiping and accusing them of being involved. Innocent until proven guilty anyone?
The British police I would have a lot of faith in, but the British media were gossip-mongering swine (hardly new for the UK press) they tore after totally innocent people, and then after crying buckets of newsprint tears for the McCanns, they were happy to start attacking them.
I cannot imagine anyone who followed this unfortunate story saying they had any trust in the British media at all. Their behavior was absolutely abhorrent....and financial settlements were handed out right and left by the press because of their reckless stories.
The only thing a UK newspaper is fit for is to be cut into strips, wound around a roll and hung next to the toilet.
Scotland Yard should have been allowed to investigate this case from the start, the Portugese Police have been a total embarrasment.
I hope the case is reopened and Scotland Yard Detectives are allowed to fully review the case.
Whatever you think of the Portuguese police, the crime occured in Portugal, not the UK; therefore, it is the Portuguese police that are going to handle it.
If it had happened in Sweden or Croatia or Fiji it would be the police of the country where it happened who would run the investigation.
Some of the forensic evidence was processed in the UK because of the lack of ability to do certain sophisticated analysis here.
In closing, I agree that the Portuguese police did a lousy job allowing themsleves to be led on a publicity driven wild goose chase in the first weeks, in the process of which the lives and reputations of totally innocent people were ruined, and the case went cold in that time.
Are Kate and Gerry McCann still practicing physicians, couldn't find anything thru google?
Taking this risk with their childrens safety, doesn't say much for them as physicians and compromises they may risk in the medical profession.
In the US, the parents would have been brought up on charges for leaving small children unattended. Secondly, how the twins remained asleep during the activity of investigation would be a red flag and questioned.
Whatever you think of the Portuguese police, the crime occured in Portugal, not the UK; therefore, it is the Portuguese police that are going to handle it.
If it had happened in Sweden or Croatia or Fiji it would be the police of the country where it happened who would run the investigation.
Some of the forensic evidence was processed in the UK because of the lack of ability to do certain sophisticated analysis here.
In closing, I agree that the Portuguese police did a lousy job allowing themsleves to be led on a publicity driven wild goose chase in the first weeks, in the process of which the lives and reputations of totally innocent people were ruined, and the case went cold in that time.
Yes, they did a lousy job. Good to see the British poilice are now being much more thorough and professional, checking every psychic tip that has ever come in. Why didn't they think of this earlier, Madeline probably would have been found if LE had've just listened to the psychics.
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