Madeleine McCann: German prisoner identified as suspect - #8

[peanutJelly]

Could you possibly do the same with this one too, Photographer? Because with all the talk of a child in the other van, I think my brain is tricking me into thinking it can see one in this now the back of a head, neck length hair, blue and white striped top??
I’m sure it’s not or wouldn’t have been released. It’s been a long day...

It’s the rear window on these pics where I can see a girl standing, almost like that window has been photoshopped pre publication to hide her. I’m thinking I’m seeing things not there now though, but can someone humour me by taking a look please?!

 

[ashmc79]

Those van locations must be a gold key in MM's case.

Picture on the road is too difficult, but it must be on the way to the sea.

Sea picture is easier, and I guess it's Algarve, so I'm checking all Algarve coast in Google satellite. That cliff on the left and those rocks in front of van are clues.

Unfortunately there's no street view for that location.[/QUOTE

 

[peanutJelly]

Yes. KM says that Cuddle Cat was up out of her daughter's reach where her daughter couldn't have put it and that is how she knew someone had taken her daughter. I had a few thoughts on this. Why would someone place cuddle cat there? This suggests to me that someone did this on purpose. Was it because the spot was easy for them to access? They'd have their hands full carrying the kid, and didn't want to bring something they might drop and leave behind? Was placing cuddle cat there a way to shush the child who may have woken: see dear? Cuddle Cat is just fine! Cuddle will watch from up here for a moment... and in that distracted moment, they grab her? It feels intentional. But why?

More likely to me that you’d put the toy out of the way to more easily pick up a sleeping child

 

[ashmc79]

I think the port is alvor the reflection of the statue in the window of the van looks like the fisherman sculpture in reverse on the seafront from a distance

 

[Zolex]

The Algarve - Campervan Life

Barranco

A beautiful, remote beach, down a very bad track. Barranco is a lovely bay, with a sandy beach, with rocky edges. Due to the poor access, many travellers stay here for a long time. The only locals you will ever see are the local surfers, and the goat farmer. It is possible to stay here during the summer months. The surf here is excellent. When the conditions are right you will see hoards of surfers, local and travelling, arrive in numbers. They will disappear as soon as the conditions change again. A right hand wave peels from one side of the bay to the other. Barranco is not signposted. To get there, from the N125 take the turning signposted for Praia da Ingrina and Praia do Zavial. The lane to Barranco is the first turning on the right. The lane is 3.5 miles (5.6 km) long, and not sealed. In some places massive pot holes fill with water. After heavy rains most vehicles will not be able to drive on the lane. 4WD vehicles should not have a problem.

Free camping at Praia do Barranco (Branco’s)
Barranco is a popular free camping area, throughout the year. However, access is along a long 3.5 mile (5.6 km) rutted track that can be a problem in wet weather. The bad lane means in summer you wont be moved on. There are bins at the beach, but nothing else. Take plenty of supplies with you. There is a little supermarket at theeceremonie turning on the N125.

it really looks like that is the place were the picture is taken of the van.

 

[shonyakay]

خرائط ‪Google‬‏‏

 

[NCanning]

More likely to me that you’d put the toy out of the way to more easily pick up a sleeping child

From what I recall at the time, this was the working theory- that cuddle cat was shoved up on the ledge/shelf, simply to put it out of the way

 

[Betty_Boop88]

Great find, Shonyakay

 

[Sue Donym]

Please look!

I can also see what looks like a woman next to a child.

I feel weirded it out by this.

 

[shonyakay]

I went a tour around Málaga on Google maps last night...

I think that first pic is roughly where CB was parked but I can’t seem to reach there via maps.
The second one is most of the structures you’ve pointed out, but taken from a different angle.

You too huh? Below is the closest I could get in recreating where CB's van would have been parked.

 

[NCanning]

I think the port is alvor the reflection of the statue in the window of the van looks like the fisherman sculpture in reverse on the seafront from a distance

What photo is this referring to?
I've got very confused by the posts in the past few hours

 

[shonyakay]

Great find, Shonyakay

Thanks but I got the name of the place from this article from The Sun.

Madeleine McCann suspect Christian B's campervan spotted by satellite nearby hours after she went missing

They get some things right after all.

 

[SouthAussie]

Sorry if already covered but this is new (to me) in that they’re talking specifically about the mast. Anyone in the know - what’s the area-coverage of these things? Is it a dead cert that he was there or could he have been within a few miles?

“Mr Wolters said: "We know that the phone number which was used by our suspect on May 3, 2007, was connecting to the mast which belongs to the Ocean Club in Praia da Luz."

TV host Liz Hayes then presses the prosecutor on if they can place Christian B at the scene.

He replies: "Yes, we think so."”

Source: Phone call by Christian B 'made from outside resort where she was snatched'

Triangulation allows a fairly accurate location of a phone. (Phones rarely use just one tower if there are others within range. Basically, they gather the signal from three towers and see where they meet in the middle. Other variables are factored in as well.)

Also, strength of the phone's signal on the tower (mast) can give a fairly accurate distance of the phone from the tower.

 

[Betty_Boop88]

You too huh? Below is the closest I could get in recreating where CB's van would have been parked.

Same! Very frustrating, I was so sure it would be easy to get to.

I wonder if anyone that’s handy with Google Earth can go back to 2007 and see how close they get?? The area may be more built up now than it was then - there were lots of structures and gated car parks around the port on the most recent Maps.

 

[redplanet]

THX That's a good possibility. I'll explore that tomorrow. Where did you get that info, Shonya?

In photo of VW campervan near ocean I marked a pattern of 4 bushes.
In photo of Praia do Barranco I marked the same 4 bushes and also very roughly I added the front of the campervan.
Photo credit:
Alternative Life at Praia do Barranco - TranSiTion

 

[Kiranerys]

the VW went as far as Germany...
then again, could an umbrella also be used as shade from the sun.

It could just be where the umbrella lives, I always used to have one in the boot of my car.

 

[Betty_Boop88]

Same! Very frustrating, I was so sure it would be easy to get to.

I wonder if anyone that’s handy with Google Earth can go back to 2007 and see how close they get?? The area may be more built up now than it was then - there were lots of structures and gated car parks around the port on the most recent Maps.

ETA Just noticing the Google 2012 stamp on those pics.

 

[haden]

I cant enhance it any more can you see now

Triangulation allows a fairly accurate location of a phone. (Phones rarely use just one tower if there are others within range. Basically, they gather the signal from three towers and see where they meet in the middle. Other variables are factored in as well.)

Also, strength of the phone's signal on the tower (mast) can give a fairly accurate distance of the phone from the tower.

It could be the resorts internet, too.
If he ever used it then his phone would remember that.
Maybe this is what happened. Maybe when they questioned him in 2013 he said he wasn't there but then they got the logs from OC and they got his phone logged there.
This is just one of the possibilities.

 

[Busyliz]

Thanks but I got the name of the place from this article from The Sun.

Madeleine McCann suspect Christian B's campervan spotted by satellite nearby hours after she went missing

They get some things right after all.

Bit confused now, wasn’t that discussed previously and discounted as being the westafelia van due to the dimensions? Or is it thought it could be the Winnebago?


Fantastic work there with the place ID redplanet!

 

[SouthAussie]

It could be the resorts internet, too.
If he ever used it then his phone would remember that.
Maybe this is what happened. Maybe when they questioned him in 2013 he said he wasn't there but then they got the logs from OC and they got his phone logged there.
This is just one of the possibilities.

Yes, it is another possibility. Though I know that I read or heard on a MSM video that his phone was within 100 metres (or feet?) from the Ocean Club.
If I can ever remember where I saw or heard that, I will post the link.