Before she left the Home Office to become PM, Theresa May approved a further £95,000 to extend the Met Police’s inquiry into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann.
But with the funds about to dry up and few actionable leads, it looks like official investigations may come to an abrupt end this October.
Maddie’s parents Kate and Gerry McCann have sensibly planned to take charge of the hunt for their daughter who vanished from their resort in Praia da Luz back in May 2007.
A source close to the McCanns said: “They can’t rely on the Met Police inquiry continuing forever and they are making contingency plans."
They’re reportedly set to appoint a PI and have parted ways with their long-term spokesperson, Clarence Mitchell, to cut costs.
The former BBC journalist who covered Princess Diana’s death was allegedly informed by text message. A little cold for a man who’s given nine years of his life to the search for Maddie, but perhaps there’s more to the financial story?
The campaign to find Madeleine has burned through almost £12 million and is now said to contain £480,000.
But the coffers may soon be (almost) empty as the Leicester couple face paying £430,000 to Portuguese ex-police chief, Goncarlo Amaral, after losing their libel case.
With £46,000 left over, it’s crisis point for the McCanns who need to go back into fundraising mode.
Responding to his axing, Mitchell told the Mirror: “It makes perfect sense for Kate and Gerry to keep careful consideration over all their costs.
“I will continue to help them as circumstances require.”
The Find Madeleine website is still asking for donations and selling the McCann's book, t-shirts, wristbands and stickers in an effort to raise more funds.
With the Met refusing to divulge more details about their investigations, there’s been speculation about Maddie being taken during a robbery and links to Sir Clement Freud, a former-MP and paedophile who owned a holiday home in the area.
No single theory has been proven nor talked about in recent months by the McCanns who were never suspects themselves.
If she's still alive, Madeleine would now be 13. We wish the McCanns all the best in the search for their beloved daughter.