The man identified by German authorities as the prime suspect in the 2007 disappearance of British toddler Madeleine McCann may soon be released from prison, as prosecutors currently have no plans to file charges against him in the long-unsolved case.
Christian Brueckner is nearing the end of a seven-year sentence for the 2005 rape of an elderly woman in Portugal’s Algarve region. His scheduled release is set for this September. Despite being formally named a suspect in the McCann investigation in 2022, German officials have indicated they lack the evidence to proceed with a prosecution.
In a recent statement, Hans Christian Wolters, the Chief Public Prosecutor in Braunschweig, confirmed there are “no plans to file charges in the Maddie case at this time.” He noted that his office is awaiting a ruling from a higher federal court on related proceedings, a decision that is still months away.
Compounding the situation, it has been reported that Brueckner has applied for early release. A regional court has yet to rule on that request or set a hearing date.
Madeleine McCann vanished on the evening of May 3, 2007, from a holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, Portugal, while her parents dined at a nearby restaurant. The case sparked an international investigation that has spanned nearly two decades.
Prosecutors have previously stated they have “no prospect” of charging Brueckner in connection with the disappearance due to a lack of forensic evidence directly linking him to the crime. Brueckner has consistently denied any involvement.
While considered the prime suspect in Germany, Brueckner was recently acquitted on separate charges of rape and sexual abuse of children from 2000 to 2017. A judge ruled the evidence in that trial was insufficient.
Meanwhile, the London Metropolitan Police (Scotland Yard) continues to treat the case as a missing person investigation, noting there remains no definitive proof about Madeleine’s fate. The British government allocated additional funding last year to support the ongoing inquiry, which has cost an estimated $17 million to date.
Madeleine’s parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, continue their search for answers as the 18th anniversary of their daughter’s disappearance approaches.
