Sola Adeniji|M10news|World News|30 August 2025
The sole suspect in the decades-long disappearance of Madeleine McCann is set to be released from prison in September, authorities confirmed.
Christian Brueckner, 48, will leave custody on September 17 after serving a sentence for an unrelated rape conviction in Portugal, the lead prosecutor in the investigation told the BBC.
Hans Christian Wolters, the senior German prosecutor overseeing the case, warned that Brueckner remains a dangerous individual, despite completing his prison term.
Brueckner has consistently denied involvement in Madeleine’s disappearance in Praia da Luz, Portugal, in 2007, and has not been charged in connection with the case.
Investigators have established that Brueckner lived in or near Praia da Luz between 2000 and 2017, placing him in the area during the time of Madeleine’s disappearance.
Madeleine, then three years old, vanished while on holiday with her parents and twin siblings in the Algarve resort. Her parents had gone out to dinner, leaving the children asleep in the apartment.
The case quickly gained international attention, sparking one of the largest missing-person investigations in modern history, with law enforcement and volunteers combing areas in Portugal, Germany, and other countries for leads.
Wolters confirmed that German authorities have no other suspects and continue to focus their investigation on Brueckner, citing evidence that suggests he may be responsible for the child’s disappearance and presumed death.
“While we have information that strengthens our case, it does not currently meet the threshold for a criminal charge or a guilty verdict,” Wolters said. “That is why no formal charges related to Madeleine have been filed.”
Earlier this year, Brueckner reportedly told a journalist that he plans to leave Germany upon release, potentially moving to a country without an extradition treaty, and intends to live quietly due to his notoriety.
He also indicated that he looks forward to enjoying simple personal pleasures, such as eating steak with a beer, once he is free.
In July, German authorities carried out a new search for evidence at Brueckner’s former residence and surrounding areas near Praia da Luz, but no significant findings were recovered.
The ongoing investigation involves forensic analysis, witness interviews, and digital evidence to build a comprehensive picture of Brueckner’s movements during the time of Madeleine’s disappearance.
Madeleine’s parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, continue to appeal for justice and maintain close contact with authorities in Germany, Portugal, and the UK, urging them to keep pressure on the investigation until the case is resolved.
The McCann case remains one of the most widely reported missing-child investigations globally, and authorities have emphasized that their work continues despite Brueckner’s imminent release.
