As far as I can tell the only "theories" not leaked by the Portugeuse police revolve around Satanic Rituals and that her parents are really Lizard People related to the Queen.

I get the feelign however that it wopn't be long before either or both are mentioned

alan, edinburgh, uk

Would the story have attracted different coverage had the parents not been poster-boys and poster-girls for white middle class professionals?

Nick, london,

Sadly ,I think that the Portuguese Police are on the right track, however, without a body,it will be next to impossible to prove.
Madeleine is no longer in Portugal, still, I hope that she is found.

Clive Burghard, LANCING, ENGLAND

Mr and Mrs McCann want to speak publicly now. Why didn't they want to answer about 40 questions put to them by the Portuguese police when they were being interrogated? They would have had by now enough time to think about the answers.

Loray, frankfurt, germany

i have two daughters. Can understand their utter anguish and despair.God bless them. I hope she is found soon.

Daman Ahluwalia, gurgaon, india

Much emphasis has been placed on the forensic evidence found in the hire car that the McCanns used THREE WEEKS AFTER Madeleines disappearence - do the Police know who this car was on hire to on 3rd of May, when it was most likely deposited?

Margaret Rouse, Rainham, Essex

The press has reported at least four ways that Madeline may have vanished or been killed plus another three locations where she may have been buried. There have been so many lurid and conflicting headlines that I have lost count so if I want to know anything more about this, I will watch the TV or use the radio.

Fred James, Worcester, UK

How dare these people invoke god to help.
If there was a god this would not have appened.

Rony, Lochgelly, Fife

I agree with Joseph Paulk. Give it and all of us a rest from the egregious McCanns. This maid supposedly out for revenge has probably only been fingered by someone who doesn't like her and wants to give her grief. As for Mr. Valerino pity he didn't take a snap or even inform the Moroccan police. What is it with Morocco, is child-kidnap a national sport there or is it a haven for international child traffickers? I thought that was Great Britain.

colin houlding, Bury, Lancs.

Ana P, the Portuguese police have not kept quiet, they are continually, almost daily, releasing reports of their investigation to the media. These reports are not speculation on the part of the media, although they do seem to be speculation on the part of the police. The police have repeatedly violated their own secrecy laws, while threatening to prosecute the McCanns if they speak out in their own defense.

Mary, Oklahoma, USA

I can imagine how dreadful this whole saga becomes for the McCanns, but my advice would be for them tos stay silent and wait.

rik, antwerp, belgium

the moral is don't blame others if you leave your children unprotected. The Portugese asked for British advice on DNA which has now proved useless. The British can't even find the Rhys Jones murderer when they have photos of him. A 200 year friendship with the Portugese is now severely damaged
thanks to this pathetic British hysteria.

jbentley, Haywards Heath, Sussex U.K.

I keep wondering what the Portugese Police are hiding

Jenny, Brighton, Sussex

When something like this happens, no one can tell you how to feel. I was born in the Azores so therefor I am Portuguese. I am totally embarrassed by the way the the Portuguese Police and authorities are handling this. Because of the tourist, Portugal is a beautiful place to visit. We need to treat outsides with extra care so they keep coming back. Get your lazy butts up (Portugal Police)and find this little girl. She needs to be with her family. Make all the Portuguese people proud to be from Portugal.
To the family of Madeleine- My prays are with all of you.

Helia Durand, Port Saint Lucie, Florida USA

What is this? The theory of the day for the Portugese police?! At this point it wouldn't surprise me if "sources close to the investigation" disclosed that forensic tests showed the child was abducted by aliens.

Go back to the basics - interview everyone and see if there's some hard evidence to support charges before airing more wild accusations against the parents, ex-hotel employees, or random folks living in the area.

Jill, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

Dear Matt of Kent, 1). To go chasing complete strangers in a place like Tangiers is lilely to get you in a very nasty prison for a long time. 2). The individual concerned may have had arthritis or another disability that physically prevented him from doing more than shout - at 65 it is a reasonable probability. At 48 I have arthritis in hands and legs and could not chase or physically stop a grown man 3). We know almost nothing about the veracity of this story.


Perhaps some people could think before they set fingers to keyboard.

neil murphy, cromer,

The Portuguese police (It IS portuguese not "portugese"-Could you at the very least spell correctly?) have been mum on the case as it is required by law. They have not contradict themselves since they have not talked about the case. Therefore all speculation of what they are doing let alone what they are thinking is nothing but speculation. What about if for a change only facts are reported?

Speculation doesn't help find out what happened to this child and it may even hinder the case's resolution.

Ana P. , Philadelphia, USA

In reply to Matt of Kent, Mr Valarino is reported to be 65 years of age. Its unlikely that he would have been able to run after the man and catch him!

I do hope Madeleine is found soon so this very unfortunate family can get their lives back.

Sue, Buckingham, UK

ENOUGH, already, with this Madeleine crap. It was an unfortunate incident, but hardly of earth-shattering import (except perhaps to her parents). The Times is starting to look more like The National Enquirer than a world class newspaper. If some more FACTS come out, publish them. Otherwise, PLEASE DROP IT!

Joseph Paulk, Tulsa, Oklahoma

This sounds likely...

Chris Jackson, London,

This is another misdirection. 90% of all homicides are usually the responsibility of a close family member. The PJ have access to more information plus are backed up by British Forensics.

Remember there were 40 questions that Kate McCann refused to answer. Why?

Graeme, Newcastle,

Maid with a grudge. Little late in the day to start coming up with this sort of conjecture. Day Three would have been more appropriate.
Has "abducted by Aliens" been considered? Marginally more plausible than some of the theories floated by the Portuguese police.

Andrew Milner, Yokohama, Japan

The Portuguese Police are looking increasingly incompetent and vindictive. How can all these leaks be allowed to go unpunished. It is against the Portuguese law. I am not in a position to claim that the McCanns are either innocent or guilty, but I am utterly appalled at the way the Police are conducting their investigations.

Tina10, Dublin, Ireland

I wish that the non-sensical allegations and ridiculous theories about Madeleine's parents having played a part in the disappearance of their daughter would end. I have lost a child, and I guarantee that normal people cannot suffer such a loss and then go out to dinner in a public place. I couldn't eat at all for many days after our little boy was gone. Neither could I behave normally; the McCann's were doing both that night in that restaurant. People should be doing whatever they can to help and comfort the McCann's. This desperate family is experiencing unfathomable grief, pain, and longing. The Portuguese detectives need to stop harrassing them and do their best to find Madeleine. Every moment spent focusing on the McCann's as suspects is time wasted!!!

Brock, Vancouver, USA/Washington

Why do the portugese pokice give interviews to newspapers which seem to contradict statements which they made just recently? The ones who should be informed about the progress of the case (the McCanns surely are not being informed.

To my mind the portugese police are both dillatory and incompenent

richard williams, weybridge, uk

When Mr Valerino called out Maddys name and the man ran off with her, did he NOT give chase? Yet another occasion when someone could have done something about all this and no-one bothers.
Just think, if it was her the Mr Valerino saw and he HAD given chase, he could have been a hero by now, but no! He couldn't be bothered!!

Matt, Kent, England

Another attempt to thicken the smokescreen that has been put in place to purposely cloud the facts of the case.

Unbiased Observer , Doncaster, England

I just hope the Porguguese Police force have done more thorough checks on the staff working at the Prai da Luz, holiday resort than they have done on interviewing key witnesses who claim to have seen Madeleine. When so witnesses are complaining that the police either didn't seem interested or get back to them at all - one has to lose all confidence in how capable they are of handling this investigation.

JL, Sydney, Australia

I have two daughters.I can understand the parents anguish and despair.Hope she is found real soon.

Daman Ahluwalia, gurgaon, india

August 8th? Excuse me, but what has Mr. Valerino been doing with this information? I´d be shouting it from the rooftop!

Ian Smith, Sotogrande, Spain

How does this fit with the insistence of the UK media that she was abducted by a man who was seen taking here.

There is a very good reason why newspapers should not speculate but report FACTS not heresay.

joe, Edinburgh, Scotland

I just hope this is not one of those theories. Being a mother of 3 year old, I cannot begin to imagine what Maddie and her parents are going through. May God be with her.

Reena, Bangalore, India

God speed wee Madeleine home soon. She has got to be found.

Jackie, erith, UK

Police are continuing to search for the Adbuctor of the little Girl Maddy.
I pray God keeps Maddy Safely and is found alive and well soon!

clynne, Halethorpe, MD