A suspect in the 2007 disappearance of toddler Madeleine McCann has been released from a German prison after serving a seven-year sentence for an unrelated sex crime. Christian Brueckner, 49, was freed on March 6, 2024, and will be required to wear an electronic ankle tag for five years as part of his parole conditions.
Brueckner was named as a suspect in McCann’s case in 2020 while he was already serving time for the rape of a 72-year-old woman in the Algarve region of Portugal, where McCann went missing. Upon his release, he was driven away from the prison in Sehnde by his lawyer, accompanied by a police van. His attorney has consistently denied any connection to the McCann investigation and did not comment on his client’s release.
In addition to the rape conviction, Brueckner has a criminal history that includes convictions for child abuse and drug trafficking. Prosecutors have mandated that he meet his parole officer at least once a month and must inform the court of any changes to his residence. According to prosecutor Christian Wolters, “Any violation of these conditions could lead to a fine or up to three years in prison.”
Reports indicate that Brueckner was already wearing the ankle bracelet when he left the prison. His passport has been cancelled, and legal analysts have suggested that these conditions may serve as a form of “investigative detention” to monitor his movements closely.
Madeleine McCann disappeared at the age of three from her family’s holiday apartment while her parents dined nearby. Authorities in the United Kingdom, Germany, and Portugal have identified Brueckner as their primary suspect, actively working to find evidence to link him to the case. In June 2023, police in both Portugal and Germany conducted a four-day search in the Algarve for potential evidence.
UK police announced that Brueckner had declined their request for an interview regarding McCann’s disappearance, but they remain committed to pursuing all viable leads. Brueckner lived in the Algarve from 1995 to 2007, during which time he was involved in various criminal activities, including burglaries of hotels and holiday flats.
McCann’s parents continue to advocate for the search for their daughter, who would now be 22 years old. Each year on the anniversary of her disappearance, they release a statement expressing their enduring love and hope. “We love her dearly and miss her beyond words,” they stated on their website, reflecting their ongoing commitment to finding answers in their daughter’s case.
As investigations continue, the international community remains attentive to developments in this long-standing case, hoping for justice and resolution for the McCann family.
