I wish they could find her...

[Haole Girl]

:cry:



Madeleine McCann, missing 4 year old

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6652937.stm

[kay1864]

1. I do too. It's very sad.

But after 10 days and no ransom note, I don't hold out much hope.

[Haole Girl]

2. I know

When I start to lose hope, though, I try to remember the Elizabeth Smart case.
Anything is possible, I suppose. After reading all three of John Walsh's books, however, I realize the odds.

[cwydro]

3. Someone explain to me

how they could leave kids that age alone...?

[philosophie_en_rose]

5. They weren't that far away.

They were in a restaurant in the same hotel and the kids had gone to bed. They were the equivalent of being in another part of a big house.

I don't excuse or condone their behavior, but they feel guilty enough without beating them over the head with it. Whoever took little Madeleine is the person at fault.

Remember Elizabeth's Smart's parents were in the same house as their daughter, as were Polly Klaas' parents. Shasta Groene was with her family, when they were butchered before she and her brother were kidnapped. I strongly believe that parents should do what it takes to protect their kids and pedophiles should never have the opportunity to victimize anyone. However, I think the parents deserve compassion here.

[kay1864]

10. You don't have kids, do you?

They were in a restaurant in the same hotel and the kids had gone to bed.

Not quite. They were in a different building on the property of the resort. It's not a self-contained hotel. The kids were in a separate villa, apparently on the first floor.

They were the equivalent of being in another part of a big house.

Nonsense. While we feel safe leaving our 2yo asleep in her room, we would never leave her alone in a hotel room, even asleep. It's not toddler-safe. The general public doesn't wander freely around the grounds of our house. And we don't know who has keys to our hotel room.

Parents don't leave a 4yo and 2yo twins alone in a hotel room, ever. These parents are guilty of child neglect.

[Haole Girl]

6. I know

I would be angry with them, if I could. But, they will (most likely) be consumed by their guilt and anguish- over doing that- for the rest of their lives. And, that would be hell on earth. I hope it's a lesson for parents everywhere.

[Bassic]

4. Sadly, I don't think that they will

She's long gone. :cry:

[Haole Girl]

7. I'm praying my gut feeling is wrong

There is always hope...until there is not.

[Bassic]

9. I'm praying for that as well.

I just can't bear to imagine the life that she will be forced into if she is not found.

[bdamomma]

8. oh yes, this is so sad.

[kay1864]

11. OK, now I have even less respect for these parents

The couple were questioned by police on Thursday about their lifestyle and why Madeleine was left alone in an apartment with the patio doors unlocked while they dined at a restaurant.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article1784984.ece

He's a cardiologist and she's a GP. What the hell were they thinking?

[Courtesy Flush]

12. Holy cow!

I can't believe anyone would leave a four-year-old alone while dining out. To do so in a foreign country, and leave the patio door unlocked? Just absurd.