Investigators working on the Madeleine McCann case may have the first legitimate break in the 16-year-old missing persons case in more than a decade. Police officially named convicted rapist Christian Brueckner a suspect in May 2022, and investigators recently received what they believe is a credible tip in the case. The tip links him to a location near the Portuguese resort where the then-3-year-old British girl Madeleine was last seen.
The case captivated millions as we watched Madeleine’s parents, Gerry and Kate McCann, embark on a desperate search for their daughter, who disappeared in the night while they were on vacation in 2007. Police hope this latest development can finally help solve the case and give the McCann family the closure they so desperately need.
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The McCanns were vacationing with friends.
English couple Kate and Gerry McCann stayed with a group of friends and their children at the Praia da Luz resort in Portugal in May 2007, where the families reportedly felt safe.
The last time her parents saw Madeleine, they put her to bed, as the other families did with their children, and went to a nearby restaurant for dinner with the other adults.
All the parents took turns checking in on the children. When Kate McCann looked in on the children around 10 p.m. on May 3, Madeleine was nowhere to be seen. An exhaustive search began, but sadly, Madeleine was never found.
Brueckner is the only official suspect.
In May 2022, Portuguese police named Brueckner an “arguido,” which translates to official suspect, in Madeleine’s case. Brueckner is reportedly a German national who lived a transient lifestyle in the area where Madeleine disappeared.
According to the Daily Mail, he is both a convicted pedophile and rapist, who is currently spending time in a German prison for the 2007 rape of a 72-year-old American tourist in Portugal, just 18 months before Madeleine disappeared.
The outlet also reported that Brueckner allegedly broke into hotel rooms and apartments to steal so he could supplement his income from drug dealing. When Madeleine’s case broke, he reportedly left the area suddenly, after living there for nearly a decade.
When he was named a suspect, Kate and Gerry McCann released a statement on the Official Find Madeleine Campaign Facebook page.
The statement reads: “We welcome the news that the Portuguese authorities have declared a German man an ‘arguido’ in relation to the disappearance of our beloved daughter Madeleine. This reflects progress in the investigation, being conducted by the Portuguese, German and British authorities. We are kept informed of developments by the Metropolitan police. It is important to note the ‘arguido’ has not yet been charged with any specific crime related to Madeleine’s disappearance. Even though the possibility may be slim, we have not given up hope that Madeleine is still alive and we will be reunited with her.”
An informant tipped off German officials.
The New York Post reported that Portuguese publication Expresso released information regarding a tip given to the BKA (akin to the United States’ Federal Bureau of Investigation). The agency took the tip seriously as the informant was deemed credible and close to the investigation. German and Portuguese authorities descended on Arade Dam, about 45 minutes from Praia da Luz.
The tip was reportedly taken so seriously that police only disclosed where they would be searching shortly before they began looking to prevent any possible interference.
Investigators were reportedly looking for rags. Some have surmised that those rags may have been pieces of the pajamas Madeleine was wearing the night she disappeared.
Brueckner reportedly had thousands of pictures of the area.
In a report from Tuesday, police stated they combed through 8,000 of Brueckner’s images of the region, focusing on areas near the dam, hoping to piece together why he had them and what connection, if any, there may be to Madeleine, according to the Post. The images also reportedly led investigators to search other areas near the dam.
The Mirror reported that during the search, police found a bra strap, pieces of clothing, and various plastic items. It is unclear whether the items are directly connected to Madeleine’s disappearance.
Investigators combed the area for three days and called the search off after discovering a “relevant clue,” the Post reported.
The outlet reported that Brueckner’s legal team says the search is unnecessary and their client had nothing to do with the girl’s disappearance.
“The prosecutors are not saying anything to the public because they must give the files to my lawyers — and they contain many material which confirms my innocence,” Brueckner reportedly wrote in one of a series of letters sent in the days leading up to the search, according to Independent.
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Madeleine would have turned 20 in May.
Madeleine’s family posted a video tribute to their daughter on her birthday on May 12, captioned, “Happy birthday Madeleine. Still missing. Still very much missed. Still looking. For as long as it takes …”
Followers sent their love and prayers to her family, many sharing the hope that she will come home someday.
“Happy bday Maddy hopefully you be home soon wth your family,” a follower wrote.
“Still hoping with you,” another agreed.
