U.K. Papers Probe Missing Girl Shocker

Sept. 8, 2007 — -- Early Saturday morning Gerry McCann was officially named as a suspect in the disappearance of his daughter Madeleine McCann, now 4, in early May.

Gerry's wife Kate was named as a suspect Friday.

In the 128 days since the disappearance, the McCanns, both doctors, have captivated the British public with their plea for help. They have received 2.8 million pounds in contributions to be put towards a reward for their daughter's return. Even celebrities like David Beckham and J.K. Rowling have contributed to the fund.

Now, with the possibility that both parents were involved, British papers are regularly updating their reports about the now controversial British couple.

Detectives reportedly offered Mrs. McCann a deal during her 11-hour questioning session, Friday. She was told if she confessed to killing Madeleine by accident, she would be given a more lenient jail sentence of two years or less.

According to Britain's Telegraph newspaper, Mrs. McCann refused, saying, "How dare you. How dare you use emotional blackmail to get me to confess to something I didn't do."

According to Britain's Sun, Gerry's sister, Philomena McCann said that he "was questioned by the Policia Judiciaria (PJ) for a long time and he gave full answers to everything that was asked of him. He has cooperated fully with the PJ. ... Gerry did not seem particularly worried. He was more concerned about how the investigation had turned away from looking for Madeleine alive."

The Sun also reported that Gerry's brother, John McCann, said this morning that the McCanns were not presented with any "hard evidence" during questioning.

However, The Guardian reported that a McCann family friend, Justine McGuinness, has said she was asked specifically about traces of blood found in a car rented by the couple four weeks after Madeleine's disappearance, as well as alleged DNA evidence found on clothing.

Any speculation on new evidence relevant to the case has yet to be confirmed by the police, but The Independent reported that a spokesman for the PJ inquiry, Olegario Sousa, said on Wednesday that he was "very satisfied" with the new evidence that has surfaced.