McCanns facedown rumours
Updated on 10 August 2007
The face of Madeleine McCann may now be embedded in the global consciousness but the worldwide investigation to find her on the eve of its 100 day has left a much less certain mark.
For all its efforts it appears to have got nowhere.
Police in Portugal may have ruled out dozens of possibilities but have failed to have produced anything of certainty - and in that vacuum expectation and cynicism have turned the finger of suspicion onto the McCann's themselves.
"Clearly there's been a shift in the investigation"Gerry McCann, Madeleine's father
Today Madeleine's parents faced questions from the press from the resort in Praia da Luz.
Gerry McCann spoke about the way the investigation is headed: "Clearly there's been a shift in the investigation - that's been apparent with the activity over the last week or so. We have always co-operated. We think, as far as we believed, we were not under suspicion."
THE INVESTIGATION
May 3: Madeleine McCann disappears from holiday apartment in Praia da Luz
May 10: Portuguese police announce they are winding down search for Madeleine
May 15: Robert Murat is classified as a suspect by police
May 25: Description of a man seen carrying a child on night of abduction is released by police
May 31: Police plow through emails and messages from clairvoyants
June/July: Dozens of possible sightings of Madeleine are reported to police
August 4: Robert Murat's house is searched for a second time by police
August 6: Traces of blood are found in the apartment where Madeleine went missing
Concern generated by the couple's laudable efforts to seek publicity has frayed at the edges in time with little positive news.
Even today's interviews to mark the 100 days turned into defending awkward questions - raised by speculation and rumour in the Portuguese media that they are responsible for her disappearance.
The McCanns say such rumours are beyond belief.
