A newly surfaced witness statement in the massive Jeffrey Epstein files has reignited interest in one of the world’s most famous missing-person cases: Madeleine McCann. The 2009 report describes a young girl who “looked like Madeleine McCann” walking with a woman resembling Ghislaine Maxwell, sparking questions and renewed debate nearly two decades after Madeleine vanished.
Madeleine McCann was just three years old when she disappeared on May 3, 2007, from the Ocean Club resort in Praia da Luz, Portugal, while her parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, dined nearby. Despite a massive international search, border alerts, and countless leads, she has never been found. Her case became one of the most widely reported missing-person stories in modern history.
The Witness Statement
The reference to Madeleine appears in a single statement within millions of pages unsealed by the U.S. Department of Justice related to Epstein’s prosecution and Maxwell’s 2021 conviction. The witness, who remains unidentified, claimed to have seen the girl in the fall of 2009 in the U.K., and reported the sighting at the time to local police.
The witness described: “There was also a middle-aged man with them, but he was walking much further ahead. When I got up close to the girl I noticed she looked like Madeleine McCann. The woman was trying to hurry her along and seemed agitated that I was there. The little girl held her hand over her right eye the whole time.”
This detail is particularly striking, as Madeleine had a rare eye condition called coloboma—a keyhole-shaped mark in her right pupil that can make her sensitive to light, a feature that has long been highlighted in public appeals.
Renewed Interest
The 2009 sighting also coincided with earlier leads, including an e-fit image created by private investigators for the McCann family. The woman in the image was described at the time as a “Victoria Beckham lookalike,” reportedly aged 30–35, with short black hair similar to Maxwell’s. The sighting reportedly took place in Barcelona just days after Madeleine’s disappearance, suggesting investigators explored leads outside Portugal.
However, no law enforcement agency has confirmed a connection between the image and Maxwell, and there is no verified evidence linking Madeleine’s disappearance to Epstein or Maxwell. The U.S. Department of Justice emphasized that the files include unverified submissions from the public, stating: “This production may include fake or falsely submitted images, documents, or videos, as everything sent to the FBI by the public was included in the production responsive to the Act.”
Context and Caution
It’s crucial to note that this witness statement is just one account among millions of documents. Authorities have not indicated that it has prompted new investigative action, and no official source has confirmed that it substantiates a link between the McCann case and Epstein’s crimes.
Still, the document has reignited online discussions, reminding the public of the enduring mystery surrounding Madeleine McCann’s disappearance and the many theories that continue to circulate.
What do you think—could Madeleine McCann have been taken by Maxwell and Epstein? Share your thoughts below and spread this story so more people can weigh in on the discussion.