The prime suspect in the Madeleine McCann disappearance case, Christian Brückner, has been released with an electronic ankle bracelet after serving his sentence in German prisons for the rape of an elderly woman in Praia da Luz, Portugal, in 2005. Although he was not visible in the car, Brückner left prison, with police confirming his release. The 48-year-old has not been charged with any crime related to the Madeleine McCann case. He denies any involvement.
The timeline of the Madeleine McCann case
Madeleine disappeared from the tourist resort of Praia da Luz in Portugal in 2007. While her parents went to a nearby restaurant, she and her siblings were sleeping in the holiday home where they were staying. German prosecutors have identified evidence, including mobile phone data, suggesting that Brückner may have been in the area when Madeleine disappeared, and they maintain he is responsible. However, they have not found sufficient strong evidence to file charges.
The 48-year-old spent many years in the Algarve region and had previously been convicted of child sexual abuse in 1994 and 2016. Portuguese and German police conducted a new search in June between the location where the McCann family was staying and addresses linked to Christian Brückner, without any breakthrough. In 2023, investigators carried out searches near Barragem do Arade lake, approximately 30 miles from Praia da Luz, where Brückner had spent time.
It should be noted that due to differences in legal systems, German authorities suspect Christian Brückner of murdering Madeleine McCann. In contrast, British police continue to treat her disappearance as a missing persons case. The British Metropolitan Police has funded £13.2 million for the case since 2011. In April, the British government secured an additional £108,000.
