I so hope it is true. That this bright eyed girl with pink bows in 
her hair, Denise Pipitone, dubbed Italy’s Madeleine McCann, has been found alive and well four years after being abducted.
Denise Pipitone was only four when she vanished in September 2004 while playing outside the front of her house in Sicily as lunch was being prepared. It was believed she was kidnapped, and that ”nomads” could have been responsible.
Last night police picked up an eight year-old girl matching her description on the Greek island of Kos following a tip-off. A gipsy woman with the child at first claimed to be her mother, but later admitted she was not. Police said the child had a birthmark under her eye like that of Denise and that she could speak only Italian.
Police were alerted by an Italian tourist who grew suspicious after being offered a bracelet by her and her 30-year-old female companion. He was amazed the child spoke fluent Italian, but the woman, who claimed to be her mother, did not. Police conducted DNA tests which showed there was no blood relationship between the two.
DNA tests have also been been carried with Denise’s mother after she was shown a picture of the child and said the birthmark and the shape of the eyes were ‘exactly the same’ as her daughter’s.
I highlighted this tragic story a year ago, and Piera’s desperate frustration at Italy’s ancient laws which regard kidnapping the same as an affair; she is campaigning for reforms of the law. After many false alarms, Piera is desperately waiting for the results of those DNA tests, and for a reunion she has longed for constantly.
This surely emphasises how much we desperately need an Amber alert system in Europe for missing children, that these cases must be taken much more seriously by agencies. It’s almost as serious as murder, and maybe worst for a family who has lost a child this way and has no clues about their safety or whereabouts. They don’t know if they are dead or alive.
My thoughts are with all the families of all missing children.
In memory of those who are still missing.
what fabulous news – and four years on. good post ellee – somethign cheering for a Friday!
Great to know one young girl has been found.
I do hope this is true, and that the process of recovery can now start!
I can’t begin to imagine the anguish suffered by such families, it must be devastating.
Let’s hope it’s true Ellee. In all the ones you have highlighted so few have had favourable outcomes. May this truly be one with an ultimately happy ending.
One has fingers crossed.
Wickedness perpetrated against children was what first made me give up my Christian faith and enquire into the Bible’s veracity.
I hope it is true.
And yes, we do need an alert system. I nearly lost my six year old the other day and amidst my panic I thought that if he had gone, he would be long gone and there was no system, nothing really (other than chance or luck) that would have found him. NO way to shut roads or anything and yet those first few hours are crucial.
Fortunately the little wotsit had just hidden under a line of parked trolleys outside the supermarket and thought the whole thing was very amusing.
[…] stereotyping of missing adults and children led to Ellee Seymour starting her marvellous focus on the topic last year and she continues this by highlighting reports […]
Great news.Here’s hoping the reunion with her family is as smooth as possible.
Well done to you for keeping on highlighting this…
Sadly, it seems it was another false alarm. This is the only link I can find outlining the latest DNA results:
http://www.agi.it/world/news/200809121853-cro-ren0075-art.html
How devastated the parents must feel.
Let’s hope Madeleine will also be found safe and well.
The poor parents!