What do you think is the best way to find a missing child?

Question

This isn't a pro or anti McCann Q...so lets try & put our head together for once...ok?!

I'm begining to believe that there are 2 schools of thought with regards to finding missing children :
1. Some experts believe that a wide media coverage results in the public easily recognising the child which leads to a quick finding of the baby.
2. Some experts believe that its better for Police & Private investigators to go underground, lulling the abductor into a false sense of security, leading them to come out with the child when the child is rescued & abductor is nabbed.

Now, i don't say that the McCanns were wrong to immediately opt for full coverage of their missing Madeleine.
They were obviously advised by experts who know more about abductions than any of us here.
Also, being in a foreign country, they had to attempt the quickest option & its a fact that wide coverage normally results in quick findings.

My Q is what is your opinion? Which option do YOU prefer?

Its obviously a very very tough call to make as its simple to see that wide coverage leads to the abductor getting into a panic which could be dangerous for the child. At the same time, wide coverage is a known surefire way to ensure that people keep their eyes & ears open for the child which is vital for the child's quick & safe return.

Personally, i think that tho' option 2 may take longer, which would be a nightmare for both the parents as well as the child, it is a safer option.
God bless little Madeleine & her grieving family.

Answer 1

I think a lot of it depends on the gae of the child and the suspected motive for the abduction.
If the child is very young then it is probably better to keep it quiet as it is often suspected that a baby will be taken by a person who wants the baby themselves - by creating mass hysteria the abductor may panic and kill the baby
If they think the child/baby ha been taken by some kind of paeodophile ring - usually with older children then as much media converage as possible is advisable as it is likley they will be moved out of the country.
In the UK the police will advise the family the best course of action in their case. but mistakes can be made and families can send the abductor of their child to ground by going on TV too soon.
Personally I dont know what i would do, I think honestly my first reaction would be to tell everyone and once you do that there is no going back!
Good question tho!

Answer 2

This is a very difficult question and I believe it would depend on the circumstances of the case. My first reaction would be to contact the media because someone may have seen the child or know where he/she was. But I would definitely get a private investigator or two onto the case if there were no leads within a short period of time. If I had the amount of money at my disposal that the Find Madeleine Fund received, then that is what I would definitely do. I don't know if I would be giving the interviews etc that the McCanns did and whether the media storm would be as big as that case. Very tough though to know unless it is you and your child in that situation.

Answer 3

Option 2 does sound better. I have worried from the beginning about what sort of impact the publicity and worldwide media coverage has had on Madeleines situation, if she is being held somewhere.

I hope that if she is being held, the abductor is so sure of him or herself ,& confident of not being caught, that Madeleine is ok.

I still believe she will be found. Alive.

Answer 4

It's a tough call, but I would involve the media at first. Then, once everyone was aware of who she was, I would fade out of the spotlight, and let the Private Investigators and police take over. Someone would slip up if the media spotlight wasn't on them. I hope this latest sighting comes to something, and my fingers are crossed.

Answer 5

In the case of stranger abductions, vast media coverage is essential.

In the case of a child custody battle, a private investigator would be better, imo.

Answer 6

1 at first then option 2 after 24 hours if no change in the situation not 5 months later.

Answer 7

Hi Faith,
There are benefits and risks to every decision you make. When you are making a decision the benefits must outweigh the risks but it would not eliminate the risks completely unfortunately. What I would do is listen carefully to the experts and try to make an informed judgment based on their advice.

Very tough decision indeed.

Answer 8

as you have mentioned risk is there in the first method. but for us finding the child is the first priority. all actions will have a plus and minus and so the decision has to be taken only by the parents and not by anybody else. going by opinion is not the right method in this case.

Answer 9

I would contact agencies that specialize in missing children and ask them what to do. I think the correct procedures demands on many many circumstances so it is impossible to say what the right thing to do is.

Answer 10

There is only one way and that is to keep looking and follow up all leads and sightings. I just hope that all concerned never give up.A child's life is at stake.