German prosecutors have requested that an ankle monitor be placed on the main suspect in the murder of Madeleine McCann and convicted rapist, Christian Brueckner, as he counts down to his potential release in just a few weeks. Brueckner, the prime suspect in the disappearance of the 3-year-old British girl in 2007, is serving a seven-year prison sentence at Oldenburg prison for multiple charges, including the rape of a 72-year-old American woman in Portugal.
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However, the 48-year-old German, who was supposed to remain in prison until the end of January 2026, could now be released as early as September 17. He owes €1,446 in fines from previous convictions, including a 2016 charge for drunk driving, document forgery, and assault in 2017. The unpaid fine added 111 days to his sentence and would have kept him behind bars until next year.
Path to release opens up
However, a former FBI police officer from Germany reportedly settled the outstanding fines, opening the path for his early release. German prosecutors are desperately trying to keep the convicted rapist imprisoned, as they fear he will immediately leave the country, preventing them from further investigating Madeleine’s disappearance from Praia da Luz in Lagos, Portugal. They are now attempting to place him under surveillance as his release date approaches.
“He will be forced to wear an electronic ankle bracelet when released, according to the Brunswick prosecutor’s office,” reports Der Spiegel. He must also declare a permanent address upon release and will be prohibited from leaving Germany without permission from probation services. Under his supervision, he will not be allowed to remain in “certain locations” that “could offer him the opportunity or incentive to commit further crimes,” according to a prosecutor’s office proposal.
The sex offender must also report to the surveillance service at specific times and immediately report any changes in residence or workplace. The investigative authority also submitted a separate application for conditional supervision, which will be decided by the Criminal Court of Hildesheim on August 29.
The Brunswick investigative authorities also demand that he “not enter the circular exclusion zone around the victim’s place of residence.” Authorities do not clarify who this refers to, and the American woman he raped in the Algarve in 2005 is no longer alive. Brueckner, who has been under investigation by German police in connection with Madeleine’s disappearance since 2020, vehemently denies the claims and any involvement in her disappearance.
