Who was Madeleine McCann, and why does her story continue to grip the world’s heart? On that fateful night of May 3, 2007, a vibrant three-year-old girl vanished from her family’s holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, Portugal, turning a dream getaway into an unimaginable nightmare. Madeleine, a spirited child full of life, was on vacation with her parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, and her younger twin siblings. As her parents enjoyed a nearby dinner, they were plunged into horror when they discovered their little girl was missing.