this is what gerry mccann told his sister. >> he said that madeleine had been abducted. and they've been taken within a half hour, one of the children. >> reporter: kate mccann returned to the table screaming that madeleine had been taken. >> from the minute we discovered madeleine missing and the police were called very early on, we left with them almost immediately. >> reporter: police arrived and a team of detectives was assembled just before midnight. along with resort guests, authorities searched throughout the night. at that point, police believed madeleine had been kidnapped. they did not secure the apartment. >> we tried to do a strategic search from the right-hand side of the village across the street to the left. >> reporter: but there was no sign of missing madeleine. >> please, please, do not hurt her. please don't scare her. please tell us where to find her or put her in a place of safety and let somebody know where she is. we beg you to let madeleine come home. >> reporter: rumors have been rampant, their position, it's hard to know. elizabeth smart was kidn

years after their 38-year-old daughter varnished from a family vacation in portugal, kate and gerry mccann say they'll never give up hope they will find madeleine alive. british police are still chasing down hundreds of leads. on friday, the crown prosecution services sent an international letter of request to authorities in portugal asking for permissioning to conduct interviews in connection with madeleine's disappearance. this latest development prompting speculation that the mystery of madeleine's disappearance may be connected to a surge of burglaries in the area. 17 days before the madeleine went missing, there were two separate break-ins near the apartments where the mccanns were staying on holiday. >> it's likely that the apartment was broken into by a burglar or burglars and for some reason or other, they've seen the opportunity to take madeleine. >> police in portugal tell us they have yet to receive the letter from britain but are aware that scotland yard is focusing their investigation on three individuals. and they noted that those individuals have not been detained. almost th

well, a spokesman for kate and gerry mccann told "the daily mirror" they don't want to build up their hopes too high but do realize this could be a significant new lead. robin? george? >> thank you, lama. even after all this time. >> amazing. >>> we're going to turn now to that sex scandal rocking frantz right now. where the country's first lady has been hospitalized, said to be in shock after tabloids published photos exposing the president's secret affair with a famous actress. he's now lashing out at the press. abc's amy robach with the details and this guy has a very complicated love life. >> yes, but he's french, right? isn't that what the french do? and the french are usually considered more liberal when it comes to these types of issues. but this is sending shock waves throughout the country. this morning, french president francois hollande is preparing to address allegations he's been carrying on an affair with this woman, 41-year-old actress julia gayet. rumors of a tryst began swirling after the french magazine, closer, published pictures of a man they say the hollande ridin