Madeleine McCann , a three-year-old British girl, vanished fr om a holiday apartment in Portugal in 2007, triggering worldwide media coverage. Nearly two decades later, her case is back in the headlines, this time linking it to Ghislaine Maxwell , a close associate of the late Jeffrey Epstein.
McCann’s name appears in U.S. Department of Justice files on Epstein released between 2025 and 2026. A witness statement in the dossier alleges Maxwell was seen with a girl resembling Madeleine years after the disappearance.
- Madeleine McCann’s name resurfaces nearly two decades after her disappearance, following references in newly released files tied to the Epstein investigation.
- A witness statement alleges that Ghislaine Maxwell was seen years later with a girl resembling Madeleine, fueling social media debate.
- Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence after being convicted of s** trafficking of minors and related conspiracy charges.
The claim has fueled intense internet debate, with social media users circulating an old collage comparing Maxwell to a sketch of a person of interest in the case.
“Literally identical,” concluded a netizen about the similarities between the two women, while another argued, “It’s creepily similar, but why on earth would she [Maxwell] do it herself? She had people working for her.”
Witness statement referencing Madeleine McCann and Ghislaine Maxwell renews interest in forgotten case
Man in blue blazer and woman in beige top posing closely at an event, related to Ghislaine Maxwell and Madeleine McCann abductor sketch debate.
A document labeled EFTA01249618 in the Epstein files references Madeleine McCann in a witness statement dated 2009.
According to the testimony, a UK-based individual was walking along a road when they found themselves behind a woman and a little girl. A middle-aged man was also present but was walking several meters ahead of the pair.
Man in suit holding up a sketch, related to Madeleine McCann abductor, in a presentation setting with blurred background.
The witness states that when they got closer to the child, they noticed she resembled Madeleine McCann.
Per the statement, the woman appeared to be attempting to rush the girl and seemed agitated by the witness’s presence.
Young blonde girl smiling gently, image related to Madeleine McCann abductor sketch and Ghislaine Maxwell debate.
The account further details that the child repeatedly turned around to look at the witness.
She also had her hand placed on her right eye the whole time, which has drawn attention because of Madeleine’s distinctive coloboma — a rare eye condition visible as a dark mark on the iris of her right eye.
In 2009, Madeleine would have been six years old. The witness stated that the girl they saw appeared to be around that age.
Side-by-side comparison of Ghislaine Maxwell and Madeleine McCann abductor sketch sparking online debate.
According to the witness, they eventually turned off the road and gave little thought to the encounter for years, until they saw a post about Maxwell and theories linking her to Madeleine’s vanishing.
The post in question includes an e-fit image issued by private investigators hired by Madeleine’s parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, alongside a photo of Maxwell.
Screenshot of a social media comment discussing similarities in a viral post about Ghislaine Maxwell and Madeleine McCann abductor sketch.
Excerpt of a report comparing Ghislaine Maxwell to Madeleine McCann abductor sketch sparking online debate.
The woman in the sketch was described by British media as “a bit of a Victoria Beckham lookalike” and was estimated to be between 30 and 35 years old and approximately 5 feet 2 inches tall.
She became a person of interest in Madeleine’s case after private investigators received a tip about a conversation she allegedly had with a British man in Barcelona approximately 72 hours after the girl’s disappearance.
Close-up of Ghislaine Maxwell with short dark hair and brown eyes in a blue top, related to Madeleine McCann abductor sketch debate.
According to reports, the woman allegedly asked the witness: “Are you here to deliver my new daughter?”
The witness described her as having an Australian or New Zealand accent.
Several online commenters believe she looks almost identical to Maxwell
Young girl with short blonde hair and green eyes wearing a red velvet dress related to Madeleine McCann abductor sketch debate.
“Not similar. It is her,” wrote one social media user, while another advised the FBI to conduct “a lie detector test on Maxwell for that event.”
“Wow, uncanny resemblance,” observed a third, while a fourth remarked, “That’s her. No way that isn’t her.”
Screenshot of a social media reply commenting on Madeleine McCann abductor sketch and Ghislaine Maxwell comparison debate.
Couple with serious expressions sitting indoors during an interview about Madeleine McCann and Ghislaine Maxwell comparison debate.
“What’s there to talk about? It’s her,” asserted a fifth.
A person frustrated with conspiracy theories surrounding the Epstein files, however, commented, “You think she was out there doing the dirty work herself? This whole story is insane.”
Declassified FBI document referencing Ghislaine Maxwell and Madeleine McCann in a reported sighting case.
“Breaking into a hotel room and kidnapping a child herself? That seems way below her pay grade,” another added.
Maxwell is currently incarcerated at Federal Prison Camp Bryan in Texas
Side-by-side images comparing Ghislaine Maxwell US Justice photo with Madeleine McCann abductor sketch from 2009 case.
In 2022, she was sentenced to 20 years in prison by a federal court.
She was convicted of s** trafficking of minors, grooming teenage girls for Epstein, conspiring to entice a minor to travel for illegal s** acts, conspiring to transport a minor for criminal s**ual activity, and more.
Smiling young girl wearing a white hat outdoors, related to Madeleine McCann abductor sketch debate.
On Monday, February 9, Ghislaine Maxwell refused to answer questions about Epstein from the House Oversight Committee, according to a video released by Chairman James Comer.
“I invoke my Fifth Amendment right to silence,” Maxwell stated multiple times during her closed-door virtual deposition from prison.
No trespassing sign on rocky terrain with private property warning on a sandy and grassy landscape background.
“This is obviously very disappointing,” Comer told reporters following the deposition, according to ABC News. “We had many questions to ask about the crimes she and Epstein committed, as well as questions about potential co-conspirators.”
Man sitting between two women in white and pink nightgowns, related to viral post comparing Ghislaine Maxwell and Madeleine McCann abductor.
Ghislaine Maxwell’s lawyer, David Oscar Markus, meanwhile, said she will “speak fully and honestly” if President Donald Trump grants her clemency.
Epstein took his own life while in federal custody at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York in 2019.
“Sometimes the truth is stranger than fiction,” a netizen expressed
Screenshot of a Twitter reply discussing the viral post comparing Ghislaine Maxwell to Madeleine McCann abductor sketch.
Screenshot of a Twitter reply discussing the viral post comparing Ghislaine Maxwell to Madeleine McCann abductor sketch.
Screenshot of a Twitter reply saying This is insane in a viral post about Ghislaine Maxwell and Madeleine McCann abductor sketch debate.
Tweet by user mfkz replying with text Not similar, it is her, in a discussion about Ghislaine Maxwell and Madeleine McCann abductor sketch comparison.
Screenshot of a social media comment reacting to a viral post comparing Ghislaine Maxwell to Madeleine McCann abductor sketch.
Screenshot of a tweet commenting on a viral post comparing Ghislaine Maxwell to Madeleine McCann abductor sketch.
Tweet by user Michael Against The Machine discussing alleged statement by father after girl went missing, related to viral post debate.
Social media user replying to a discussion about Ghislaine Maxwell and Madeleine McCann abductor sketch comparison.
Screenshot of a tweet discussing FBI action related to a viral post comparing Ghislaine Maxwell to Madeleine McCann abductor sketch.
Screenshot of a social media post sparking debate over Ghislaine Maxwell and Madeleine McCann abductor sketch comparison.
Tweet discussing McCanns’ alleged lies about break-in, linked to viral post comparing Ghislaine Maxwell to Madeleine McCann abductor.
Screenshot of a Twitter reply discussing a hotel as the planned exchange place, related to viral viral post debate keywords.
Screenshot of a viral tweet sparking debate comparing Ghislaine Maxwell to Madeleine McCann abductor sketch.
Tweet discussing timing and details sparking debate comparing Ghislaine Maxwell to Madeleine McCann abductor sketch.
Screenshot of a social media post debating Ghislaine Maxwell related to Madeleine McCann abductor sketch discussion.
Screenshot of a social media post discussing recruiting young girls, relevant to Ghislaine Maxwell and Madeleine McCann abductor sketch debate.
Screenshot of a social media reply discussing Ghislaine Maxwell in the context of the Madeleine McCann abductor sketch debate.
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