Maddie Case: What Happens to the Parents' Other Children?

The disappearance of Madeleine McCann, which occurred in May 2007, when she was only three years old, shocked the entire world. While the case remains unsolved to this day , two children grew up in the shadow of this tragedy: her brother and sister, Sean and Amélie, who were only 18 months old at the time. What became of them? A look back at this infamous case.

The Maddie Affair in 10 Lines

Back to May 2007. The McCann family went on vacation to Portugal, staying with friends in a hotel complex. On the evening of May 3, the parents put their 3 children to bed around 8:30 p.m. , before joining their friends for dinner nearby. Every 30 minutes or so, the adults took turns checking that the children were asleep. Later that evening, it was Matt Oldfield's turn to do the "rounds." Without entering the room, he claimed to hear noises and see a light nearby. Kate McCann, the mother, went there and noticed that the bedroom window was open. Maddie, 3, was no longer there. The parents immediately alerted the police. The case took on global proportions, until Interpol issued a wanted notice 2 days later, on May 9, 2007. The main suspect, a German sex offender, has been in prison since 2020 .

Although the case remains unsolved to this day, as Maddie has not been found, her two brothers and sisters continue their lives far removed from this case.

A discreet life, protected from the media

Throughout the years, Kate and Gerry McCann have chosen to shield their twins from the media hype. According to the Daily Mail , Maddie's siblings turned 18 in 2023 and were in their final year at a Catholic school in England. The website Now to Love describes them as "budding athletes, competing in swimming championships, triathlons, and cross-country races."

Their mother confided that her children "have their own friends, keep themselves busy, and are really sporty, but their only wish is for their big sister to come home." It's one of the few public accounts of the twins' current lives.

A united and informed family

Despite the secrecy, the McCann family remains united and continues to follow the investigation closely. Sean and Amélie are kept informed of the investigation's progress, although their daily lives are centered around their personal and student projects. Choosing to remain silent has allowed them to grow up in a healthier environment, despite the constant burden of absence.

In June 2025, "new searches were carried out near the Arade dam, a few dozen kilometers from the place of the disappearance," Voici informed us. According to the Independent , 25 police officers searched "a vast wooded area around several ruined houses." At the scene, two firearms and adult-sized clothing were found. Investigations are continuing and could once again accuse the main suspect, who once had a house close to the search area.