An important development has emerged in the disappearance of 18-year-old Maddy, who has been missing since February 3. Authorities confirmed that the “mystery witness” seen speaking with the teenager shortly before she vanished has now been identified.

Maddy left her family home in Frontignan, in the Hérault region of southern France, at approximately 5:00 p.m. on February 3. According to her family, she intended to go out briefly to buy bread from a local bakery.

At the time she left, Maddy was not carrying her mobile phone, bank card or identification documents. She reportedly had only a small amount of cash given to her by her mother. Since that moment, there has been no confirmed sign of life.

Investigators have stated that Maddy does not appear to have reached any nearby bakery, raising questions about what happened in the short window after she left home.

Surveillance footage reviewed by authorities shows Maddy between 5:30 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. on Rue Saint-Paul. In the video, she is seen engaged in what appears to be a lengthy conversation with another young woman, believed to be in her twenties and wearing glasses.

According to investigators, the footage suggests that Maddy may have been waiting in the street prior to the encounter. The two young women are then seen talking together for a period of time before moving out of camera range.

For nearly a week, police sought to identify the woman seen in the footage, describing her as a potential key witness rather than a suspect. A public appeal was widely shared across social media platforms in hopes of locating her.

On Monday, February 9, at approximately 6:00 p.m., authorities confirmed that the mystery witness had been identified following responses to the online appeal. Officials indicated that she is expected to be interviewed by investigators promptly.

At this stage, law enforcement has not suggested any criminal responsibility on the part of the identified woman. Officials have emphasized that her testimony could help clarify the final known movements of Maddy before she disappeared.

The investigation remains ongoing. Authorities continue to urge anyone with information related to Maddy’s whereabouts to come forward.