Andalucía
Two Million Euro ransom demanded in Marí Luz case
By h.b.
Mar 6, 2008 - 3:09 PM

The family of the missing five year old girl, Mari Luz Cortés, who vanished from Huelva in the middle of January, says they have received a ransom demand for two million Euros.
They say they received a phone call from an individual yesterday, who demanded two million € to release the child.

But at a press conference held today in the Plaza Rosa del Torrejón, in Huelva, the missing child’s uncle, Diego Cortés, lamented the call which he described as ‘upsetting and senseless’, as it was believed the call is a hoax. He said that the family ‘was prepared to negotiate’ in the case of serious calls, adding that if the family would go personally to rescue Mari Luz if necessary. He said there was no chance of the family raising a sum of two million €, but that 300,000€ was possible.

The press conference given by Mari Luz's uncle Diego, in Huelva today - Photo EFE

The child’s uncle revealed that none of the leads which have surfaced in the case had resulted in anything, although the family still thought that someone local was responsible.

Mari Luz’s parents, Irene Suárez and Juan José Cortés were not present at the press conference because they are currently in Portugal where they are meeting with the Mayor of Faro, to thank him for the cooperation in the case from the authorities in Portugal. Speculation continues in some media over a possible link to the Madeleine McCann disappearance, but there is no evidence of any relationship, apart from the geographical location of the two cases.

Meanwhile the family is now in contact with a detective agency which they expect to employ to help in the search for the missing child. This Saturday a concert will be held in Huelva to raise funds. It is supported by top Spanish and Andaulcian pop stars such as Arcángel, Haze, Requiebros, Los Marismeños, Marchena, Pepe Gómez and D' Nash.