When a two-year-old toddler, all alone but seemingly unconcerned, walked bare-footed into a church in Cancun, Mexico four weeks ago, kind-hearted locals rushed to help.
First they needed to work out who she was and then who she belonged to. The child was too young to talk, so her photograph was shared on social media. It was a strategy that worked, but the answer surprised everyone.
The toddler’s name was Adelynn, and she was the daughter of a Queensland woman, Tahnee Shanks. One mystery had been solved, but it led to another one. There was no trace of Tahnee or Addy’s father, a local man, Jorge Aguirre Estudillo.
As Tara Brown reports, a major police investigation is now underway to find the couple. But in a country gripped by cartel-related violence, there are fears it could already be too late.
Reporter: Tara Brown – Producers: Tracey Hannaford, Sammi Taylor
THE SUSPECT
It’s highly doubtful, but if Madeleine McCann was still alive, two weeks ago she would have turned 19. Her parents, Gerry and Kate, cling to an infinitesimal hope that she is out there somewhere. But 15 years on from the day the little girl was snatched in Portugal, the pragmatic assessment of her fate is far more pessimistic.
That’s not to say the mystery of what happened to her won’t be solved though. Portuguese and German detectives are convinced they know who abducted and murdered Maddie.
Their prime suspect is Christian Brückner, a truly awful piece of work. However, two years after revealing their suspicions about him, there’s a tough question investigators are being asked to answer. Why hasn’t Brückner been charged with the crime yet?
Reporter: Liam Bartlett – Producer: Lisa Brown
