EON

London – The four-month global search for missing British toddler Madeleine McCann took a dramatic twist Friday when the girl’s mother, Kate, was formally named a suspect by Portuguese police.

The development followed renewed lengthy questioning by police in Portimao, southern Portugal, of Kate McCann, a 39-year-old doctor.

Her husband, Gerry, who was being questioned separately, was also expected to be named a suspect, or “arguido.”

Friends of the couple have said that Kate McCann had been named a suspect in the case, but this has not been officially confirmed. Both deny any involvement in the case.

Under Portuguese law, a suspect has legal protection that is not extended to a witness, including the right to remain silent during questioning and the right to legal representation.

As friends of the McCann’s expressed disbelief at the “ludicrous” suggestion that the couple could be responsible for Madeleine’s death, there were reports Friday that the couple could even be charged.

A spokeswoman for the McCann’s confirmed in an interview with the BBC Friday that, during 11 hours of questioning Thursday, Kate McCann had been asked whether she was responsible for her daughter’s death.

The police had presented McCann with “serious and ridiculous allegations” at which Kate McCann was “absolutely horrified,” said spokeswoman Justine McGuinness.

“Kate was a loving and caring mother. She would never hurt her children,” said McGuinness.

Members of the McCann family in Britain described as “ludicrous” the suggestion that Kate “has in some way accidentally killed Madeleine, then kept her body, then got rid of it,” according to Philomena McCann, an aunt.

Reports said Portuguese police were working on fresh evidence from forensic tests in Britain of samples taken from the family’s holiday apartment in nearby Praia da Luz, as well as traces of blood found in a car the McCann’s hired 25 days after Madeleine disappeared.

Reports in Britain said police were investigating whether the parents gave Madeleine, who was in the same bed as her two-year-old twin siblings, an overdose of sedatives so that they could go out to eat.

Portuguese police indicated for the first time in August that Madeleine could be dead.

But her parents, who launched a worldwide campaign for her release, have always insisted that they believe Madeleine will still be found.