In a devastating new twist in the Madeleine McCann case, police have confirmed that new DNA samples taken from the window of the apartment where she went missing 18 years ago match the DNA of a criminal recently released from prison, prompting an urgent notice to the public.
The breakthrough comes after forensic teams revisited Apartment 5A at the Ocean Club resort in Praia da Luz, Portugal, as part of a fresh round of investigations into the cold case. The DNA, which had been overlooked in earlier tests, was found on the window frame where Madeleine is believed to have been abducted.
Authorities have confirmed that the DNA belongs to a man recently released from prison after serving time for a series of violent crimes in the Algarve area. This revelation has stunned investigators and raised more questions than answers.
“This is a significant development. We are still trying to fully understand how this individual’s DNA ended up in the apartment. We are urging anyone who knows anything about his activities at the time of Madeleine’s disappearance to come forward,” one source within the investigation said.
The criminal in question, Carlos Almeida, 45, was recently released after serving a 13-year sentence for assault and robbery in the region. He had been in and out of the authorities' radar for years, but had never been linked to Madeleine’s case — until now.
Madeleine McCann’s family was immediately informed of the new discovery, and police have confirmed they are treating this as a potential breakthrough.
“This is a terrifying revelation. To think that someone who was living freely at the time could have been connected to our daughter’s disappearance is difficult to comprehend,” said Gerry McCann, Madeleine’s father.
The DNA results have been reviewed by both British and Portuguese forensic teams, and a match with Almeida's DNA was confirmed just days ago. However, police have not revealed how his DNA could have ended up on the window — or why it was not identified in previous tests.
In a public statement, police have issued an urgent notice asking anyone who had any contact with Carlos Almeida during the summer of 2007 to come forward with any information. They are also working to uncover whether he had any links to individuals who were working or residing in the Ocean Club resort at the time.
This new development raises disturbing questions about the possibility of an abduction ring operating in the Algarve region at the time of Madeleine’s disappearance, and whether Almeida was involved in more than just the thefts he was convicted for.
Investigators are also considering whether Almeida may have been in contact with people linked to Madeleine’s disappearance, with new leads indicating he may have been in Praia da Luz in the days surrounding her abduction.
The case, which has long been one of the most high-profile missing child investigations in the world, has taken a shocking new turn. With so many unanswered questions, the McCann family remains hopeful that this new lead will provide the final piece of the puzzle — but it has also reignited the deep pain of Madeleine’s absence.
“We will never give up,” Kate McCann said in a statement. “Every bit of information is a step closer to finding Madeleine.”
As the investigation continues, detectives are revisiting other suspects and witnesses from the time, hoping to find connections that may have been missed before. The public’s response to the urgent notice has been overwhelming, with many now holding onto the hope that this new lead could bring them closer to the truth.