[user104658]

It's all splitting hairs... They're guilty of causing her death no matter what happened that night.

Let's imagine a child DID die in an accident after being left by their parents, alone, in a holiday appartment, after the children had clearly been distressed the previous night, and even if they reported it there and then.

Would they be regarded as innocent victims, or even applauded as heroes as the McCanns have been at times? Or would they RIGHTLY face the heat publicly and possibly even legally, for blatant careless neglect causing the death of their child?

I strongly suspect the latter.

That in mind - let's sat its exactly as they say. She didn't have an accident, instead, an abductor broke in, took her, and killed her or worse. Why is the response any different? Why does it matter WHAT happened to her? Why isn't it, in fact, even worse?

They are guilty as sin, whether it's a covered up accident or an abduction, and it's a bloody tragedy that from some people, they probably get more sympathy than the poor girl herself.

Now, you can say "they've suffered enough by losing her, imagine how they must feel, they're deserving if public sympathy" and all I can say in response is... I have a 3 and a half year old girl. If my careless, selfish, ridiculously neglectful actions lead to her death I would not WANT any sympathy, from anyone. I would want the worst that the world could throw at me.