How is the absence of a 4yr old girl, NOT evidence of a crime?

Question

LISBON, Portugal - Portugal's attorney general ordered police Monday to halt their investigation into the disappearance of British girl Madeleine McCann because detectives uncovered no evidence of a crime during their 14-month probe.

The case will remain closed unless new evidence emerges, Attorney-General Fernando Pinto Monteiro's office said in a statement. Detectives found no reason to charge any of the three people named as suspects: Madeleine's parents Kate and Gerry and local man Robert Murat, the statement said. All three denied involvement.

A spokesman for the parents said they were somewhat relieved but not celebrating the decision.

"In an order issued today, ... the investigation into the disappearance of the minor Madeleine McCann has been halted because no evidence was discovered of any crime committed by the suspects," the statement said. It added the investigation could be reopened "if new evidence emerges from any serious, pertinent and authoritative" source.

Answer 1

A new General Attorney needs to be assisgned to this case.  Something doesn't add up to the missing of this litle girl.  A little girl of that age doesn't just disappear.

Answer 2

it is possible that there is several things going on here... the first being that although it might appear a crime was committed there might mot be enough of anything to go on... where would you start if it appeared someone vanished without a trace... 2nd... white slavery is still going on in Europe... well organized groups kidnap people all the time and no one ever sees them again... it's mostly for prostitution... the people who do it are very good at what they do... 3rd... the police might be cooling things off hoping a suspect might make a mistake... 4th... little children wander off and not all of them are lucky enough to be found...

Answer 3

It isn't,

if the girl was  the daughter of a politician, a celebrity, or a world leader, the case would never close. It all depends on "who" you are when it comes to the cops pursuing the case.

Answer 4

It is a ridiculous conclusion. Someone knows something and the authorities, have no leads. So out of frustration they have used this hollow excuse to stop the investigation. Or maybe it is just a cover up. Which ever, I find it appalling that the investigation has stopped on that premise.

Answer 5

After fourteen months with no new leads what else can they do?  If they have completely checked out all previous evidence and came up empty handed they really don't have anything to go on.  It's not fair of course but it happens.

Answer 6

We're talking about a completely different country from the US.  Different country = different rules.

Even in the US, if someone voluntarily walks off into the ether it's not a crime.  I'm not suggesting a four year old girl has the mental capacity to intelligently decide to just walk off, but if the facts support that she did anyway, then there's no crime.

Let's refer to the statement for this sentence:

"...no evidence was discovered of any crime committed by the suspects"

That means they have no evidence to indicate any of the three people they talked about have committed a crime under the law in Portugal.  That's not the same as saying there's been no wrongdoing by someone else.

Calling the investigation "closed" is an unfortunate use of the word.  But the fact is that if they have run down all their clues and still don't have the kid, there's not much more the Lisbon police can do except wait to see if new information develops.  

There comes a time in nearly all investigations when there just isn't anyplace left to turn for new information.  When that time comes, the case stalls and there's just no point in trying to go further because you accomplish nothing.  After 14 months, I suppose they feel they've reached that point.  Now it's sit and wait for new information they can work with.