An English-speaking girl found in Rome reignited global hope that Madeleine McCann had been found after 18 years, but DNA results shattered that dream, leaving her parents heartbroken yet finally at peace, declaring through tears, “It’s really over.”

Rome — A shocking discovery in the heart of Italy has reignited one of the world’s most haunting mysteries — the disappearance of Madeleine McCann.

Nearly two decades after the British toddler vanished from a holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, Portugal, an English-speaking girl known only as “Maria” has been found wandering the streets of Rome, sparking a wave of hope, confusion, and disbelief.

According to Italian authorities, the girl, estimated to be around 19 or 20 years old, was discovered by local police near Termini Station late last week.

She appeared disoriented and frightened, carrying no identification, and reportedly spoke fluent English but seemed to have little memory of her past.

When asked where she was from, she allegedly replied, “I don’t know… I just remember the name Maddie.”

Witnesses told reporters that “Maria” had been seen several times over the past month in central Rome, sleeping near public gardens and churches.

“She looked lost, like she didn’t belong here,” said an elderly shopkeeper who claimed to have offered her food.

“But when I asked her name, she froze.

Her eyes went blank.”

When news of the discovery reached London, the Metropolitan Police immediately contacted the McCann family and the British Embassy in Rome.

Within 24 hours, DNA samples were obtained and sent to a forensic lab under the supervision of Interpol.

As speculation swirled online, with hashtags like #MadeleineFound trending across X and TikTok, the world held its breath.

On Monday morning, the long-awaited results arrived — and they shattered hearts once more.

The young woman found in Rome is not Madeleine McCann.

Her DNA did not match the McCann family profile.

According to Italian police, she is a missing British national named Mary Collins, who disappeared from a youth hostel in Brighton five years ago.

Her mental health condition may have caused memory loss and confusion.

Despite the heartbreaking outcome, the McCanns expressed compassion and closure in a rare public statement released Tuesday morning.

“While this has been an incredibly emotional week, we are grateful to the authorities for their swift action,” said Kate and Gerry McCann.

“We sincerely hope that Mary receives the care and support she needs.

For us, the results bring both sadness and peace.

It’s really over.”

A family friend close to the McCanns described the emotional rollercoaster as “devastating but necessary.

” “They’ve been living between hope and heartbreak for 18 years,” the friend said.

“Every lead, every rumor reopens the wound.

But this time, something changed — it felt like a final chapter.”

The discovery has reignited public debate about how missing person cases, particularly involving children, are handled across Europe.

Italian investigators are now looking into how “Maria” survived for years without official documentation, noting that she may have been part of a human trafficking network that operated between Spain, France, and Italy.

“Her story may still hold clues to other missing persons,” said a senior Rome investigator.

Madeleine McCann disappeared on May 3, 2007, just days before her fourth birthday, from her family’s holiday apartment in the Algarve.

Despite one of the largest manhunts in modern history — spanning over 40 countries and involving countless false leads — no confirmed trace of her has ever been found.

Over the years, numerous individuals have claimed to be Madeleine, but all were proven false through DNA testing.

Still, the emotional toll remains heavy.

Outside their home in Rothley, Leicestershire, neighbors left flowers and cards with messages of love and remembrance.

One note simply read: “Madeleine, wherever you are, we’ll never stop looking. ”

Experts say the McCann case continues to resonate because it represents both the fragility of innocence and the endurance of hope.

“The world grew up with this mystery,” said British criminologist Dr.Elaine Porter.

“Every time there’s a new development, it reminds us how deeply it affected people — not just as a crime story, but as a collective grief.”

As the McCanns retreat from public view once again, one phrase from their statement continues to echo online: “It’s really over.

” For a family that has spent 18 years chasing answers, perhaps this time, it finally is.

And yet, for millions who still remember that smiling little girl in the pink outfit, the question lingers — not of where Madeleine McCann is, but whether the world will ever truly let her story rest.