We did discuss at length here, the possibility of whether CB may have killed MM in the apartment itself as part of a botched abuse attempt. Either inadvertently or through panic, with the most likely scenario in either event being suffocation, which leaves no forensic trace (or evidence of death) without the actual body.
I'm not necessarily saying that's what I think happened, but I've yet to see or hear anything that contradicts the possibility conclusively. There were a lot of posts where this option was debated in depth but I've linked one here which summarises some of the thinking behind it (which was nothing to do with the dog alerts I should add, which I concede could be completely coincidental/false). It was mostly instigated by my observation that HCW doesn't appear to have once mentioned a "kidnap" or "abduction" in any interview or statement he's made (he only ever talks about a murder and of "possible" abuse) which I find quite odd and deliberate when you compare to all the other LE investigators over the years who mention MM's "abduction" repeatedly. But since an adbuction requires the person to be alive when they were taken, the possibility that she was already dead might make sense of why he doesn't ever mention those words if that's what they believe happened.
Madeleine McCann: German prisoner identified as suspect - #20
On the point of how much time CB would have had in the apartment, it's very difficult to say but if he was able to hide during one of the checks, he might well have been in there for up to an hour (we know he was quite a risk taker when it comes to his perversions). I still remain sceptical about MO's check in particular too. MO seemed put out that GM went to check around 9 even though he'd just told him that he had checked at MM's window and all was fine. He obviously thought that level of check was sufficient and therefore I think it's possible that it was the window check he did again at 9.30 rather than going into 5A via the patio door as he claimed. As for potentially jeopardising the investigation by not coming clean about it, it's clear that the Tapas group all thought the intruder had broken in through the window so he might have thought that this must happened after he checked at that same window at 9.30 anyway (assuming that's what he did). Plus it wouldn't be good for him to admit he lied. Possibly irrelevant though as by his own admission MO states he only barely entered the apartment and didn't really look into MM's room so it's very possible an intruder was already in there without him noticing.
As for leaving DNA/forensic traces, the length of time he was there makes little difference. Particularly since we know he was very careful and practiced in avoiding leaving DNA evidence at the scene. The same goes for traces/evidence of death if MM was suffocated/strangled. Almost all of the forensic DNA tests done on 5A were done on hairs found and incidentally they found no trace hairs of several people who were known to have been in that apartment for lengthy periods of time, so there's no reason to think that CB "must" have left anything behind either.
Admittedly, it's all speculation, but I'm not ruling the possibility out just yet. Let's just hope this year brings some real answers though and the breakthrough in the investigation we've been looking for.
Good to see a lot of the gang sticking with the thread!
