Hello all. I am new. I registered many years ago but never really posted anything here. I have read here from time to time though. More so in the last couple weeks in light of the developments in Madeleine's case. I have researched this sad story for many years. Anyways, I wanted to comment on this, you are right that there was also the entrance via the patio doors. There was a baby gate at the top of the stairs and then the metal gate that faced the street. Both of these were reported closed by Kate when she went to check, according to David Payne. David said he asked Kate specifically if those gates were both closed and she said yes that they were. David said he believed Madeleine was abducted because she wouldn't have opened and closed both gates if she wandered out. I wonder if Amaral ruled that way in and out by the abductor because of both of the gates being closed. With that being said, Amaral should keep in open mind in regards to the patio entrance because of Carol Tranmer's statement i.e. the man opening and closing a nearby gate very cautiously over and over so it didn't make any noise. That was on the afternoon of May 3, 2007. Madeleine went missing that night.