Lusa News Agency (reprinted in Barlavento), 7 August 2007, 18:42:
PJ sees "light at the end of the tunnel" and has an idea of what might have happened
The police consider that "there is now light at the end of the tunnel" in the Madeleine McCann case, and there is "an idea of what might have happened" to the girl who disappeared in the Algarve three months again, said a source with the investigation to Lusa.
"The police see, at this time, a light at the end of the tunnel concerning the case of the missing British child," affirmed this same source, but did not provide more details.
"The working group involved with this case has an idea of what might have happened and it is with this idea as a base we are working, to develop the investigation. It is still premature to advance concrete hypotheses because they have to be consolidated."
Questioned about the detection of vestiges of blood in the apartment occupied by the McCann couple, at Ocean Club, in Lagos, the source would not confirm anything.
However, it was explained to Lusa that the police utilized an ultraviolet ray machine in the McCann apartment and that this "can detect small amounts of blood and other biological fluids."
The same source also said that "a clearly defined plan was developed more than two weeks ago and it is being followed."
Questioned about the direction of the investigation, the source reminded us that "until things are completely certain, everyone is a suspect, the parents, friends, employees and cleaning lady."
"If we look at statistics regarding these cases, in more than 80% we see the involvement of the parents, a lesser percentage of family and even fewer of friends and only 2-3 percent are strangers," stated the investigator, ending with "this is not to say that these numbers apply to this case."
Meanwhile, the ex-PJ Inspector Moita Flores said today that analysis of the blood found in the apartment "will take 10 to 12 days" and in case it is Madeleine's "it is the result of a very serious event."
"I have no doubts that, in this specific case, it will be the sign that something very serious happened, possibly death," he affirmed to Lusa.
For the criminologist, if it is found that the blood belongs to Madeleine, "the case is practically resolved, everything will become much easier."
As for the fact that the PJ is not declaring anything about the case, the ex-inspector was in agreement, justifying that "there are many issues at stake."
"There is at play more than just a child. The Portuguese Police "posto em causa" (reputation was questioned) by the media at a worldwide level and is right to be careful and protect the investigation," he confirmed.
