Timeline Of Events 50 Days, Still Hoping

Four-year-old Madeleine McCann from Rothley, Leicestershire, disappeared on May 3 during a holiday with her parents in the Algarve region of southern Portugal.Here is a chronology of developments:May 3 - The girl goes missing from her bedroom between 9.30 and 10 p.m. while her parents Kate and Gerry are dining just 100 yards away at the Mark Warner Ocean Club holiday resort in Praia da Luz. A window and shutter are open and she is presumed to have been abducted.May 4 - McCann family members and British media criticise local police for what they call a slow initial response, failure to notify ports and borders in time, and failure to secure the crime scene, which may have led to vital clues being lost.Police say that under Portuguese secrecy laws they are unable to reveal details of the investigation.May 5 - Police say they have put together a sketch of a suspect and confirm they believe Madeleine is still alive and being held within three miles of the crime scene. Media reports say the sketch is vague and only features the back of a man's head.May 8 - Police say they have investigated 350 suspicious incidents but still have no idea where she might be.Portuguese newspaper Correio de Manha says Madeleine may have been kidnapped by a paedophile ring.Two criminal behaviour experts fly in from Britain.Manchester United's Portuguese striker Cristiano Ronaldo joins appeals for her release.May 10 - The search around the resort winds down. Attention focuses on a blonde woman seen acting suspiciously before the girl's disappearance.May 11 - Scottish businessman Stephen Winyard offers a one million pound reward.Former England soccer captain David Beckham makes televised appeal for information.May 12 - Madeleine turns four.May 13 - Virgin boss Richard Branson, author J.K. Rowling and footballer Wayne Rooney are among those to have contributed to rewards now totalling 2.5 million pounds.May 13 - Half a million pilgrims attending the 90th anniversary of the first appearance of the Virgin Mary at the Sanctuary of Fatima pray for Madeleine's return.May 14 - Her parents say they will not return home until they have found her but say they think she is safe.Police search a villa just up the road from where Madeleine was snatched and take a British man, Robert Murat, to a police station for questioning. He is later released.May 15 - Police say they have identified a suspect but do not have enough evidence for an arrest.Five properties have been searched in the area, and two other people questioned as witnesses.May 16 - Deputy PM John Prescott tells parliament the government is doing everything it can to support Madeleine's parents.Portuguese police interview a computer technician as a witness, identified by local media as a Russian man, and take away computers for examination.Family sets up public appeal fund.May 17 - Web site, www.findmadeleine.com, is launched.May 18 - Multi-national companies help distribute appeal posters.Several newspapers have started talking of media overkill.May 19 - Appeals are broadcast at the F.A. Cup final at the new Wembley stadium.May 25 - Gerry and Kate McCann speak of their guilt over Madeleine's disappearance.May 30 - They meet Pope Benedict during a general audience at the VaticanJune 1 - The couple travel to neighbouring Spain where they hold a news conference to appeal for help from Spanish police.June 6 - They take their appeal to Berlin. The Algarve is popular among Germans. They move on to Amsterdam. After British and German tourists, the largest group of nationals who make up the tourists in the Algarve are the Dutch.June 7 - On their return to the Algarve, a classical and jazz concert is held in honour of Madeleine.Web site has received more than 170 million hits.June 10 - The couple fly to Morocco. British media reports suggest it might be the last country they visit before "taking stock" of their campaign.June 13 - Police start searching an area of deserted scrubland 20 km north of Praia da Luz after a tip-off to a Dutch newspaper. They find nothing.June 20 - On a visit to London, Gerry McCann has his wallet stolen. He loses precious pictures of MadeleineJune 21 - Police in Malta check two reports of possible sightings.June 22 - Worldwide balloon release to mark the 50th day since Madeleine's disappearance.