Lisbon — In a stunning announcement that has shaken Europe and effectively brought one of the world’s most scrutinized missing-person investigations to a formal close, authorities have confirmed the existence of a second, previously unseen CCTV clip capturing a child resembling Madeleine McCann walking out of the Ocean Club resort at dawn — hand-in-hand with a woman who has now been identified.
Officials say the footage, taken from a maintenance camera on the eastern service path of the resort complex, was discovered only three months ago during a comprehensive digital audit ordered by a new task force.
Today, investigators confirmed they have positively authenticated both the footage and the identity of the woman seen with the child.
The Shock Reveal: Who the Woman Was
According to today’s statement, the woman holding the child’s hand has been identified as:
a former resort employee who left Portugal abruptly in 2008 and has since been living under a different name in Northern Europe.
Authorities have not released her full identity but describe her as a seasonal caretaker who worked night shifts and had unrestricted access to service areas and exit routes seldom used by guests.
Investigators say she was interviewed in 2007 but “not considered relevant” due to lack of evidence linking her to the timeline. The newly uncovered footage now places her alone with the child at 5:17 a.m., less than an hour after Madeleine was reported missing.
Why the CCTV Footage Was Never Seen Before
Detectives say the maintenance camera was believed to be non-functional due to wiring issues and was excluded from the original evidence catalogue. When the task force re-examined archived hardware earlier this year:
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A corrupted drive was discovered
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Specialists recovered partial video segments
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One 19-second clip showed the child and the unidentified woman walking silently toward a rear exit gate
Audio from the camera was not recorded, and the pair disappeared into a blind spot seconds later.
The Woman’s Statement — A Twist Even Investigators Didn’t Expect
Authorities have confirmed the woman has since been located, detained, and questioned.
In her statement, she insisted that she was not abducting the child but “escorting her to someone who was supposed to meet her.” Investigators have not confirmed the identity of that second person, but say the claim “is not being dismissed.”
A senior Portuguese official said:
“Her explanation was unexpected, troubling, and has opened a new interpretive layer to events we believed we understood.”
Why the Case Is Now Declared Closed
After a multi-country cooperative review, forensic video authentication, and cross-checks with witness statements, authorities have ruled the clip as legitimate, stating it conclusively shows Madeleine leaving the resort alive and accompanied.
Because the footage itself aligns with the final reported movements and no criminal activity is directly depicted, prosecutors say the case no longer meets criteria for active homicide or abduction classification.
However, they emphasize that “closure does not equal final truth.”
Reaction Around the World
The announcement has sparked:
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Fierce debate among legal experts
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Emotional responses from supporters and families of missing children
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Renewed questions about investigative failures and overlooked evidence
British authorities have acknowledged “deep regret” that the footage remained hidden for so long.
What Comes Next
Although the criminal case is officially closed, an international tracing effort is now underway to locate the second individual the woman claims she was meeting that morning.
Officials say they will release additional details “in due course.”
