The case of missing British toddler Madeleine McCann has taken a dramatic turn as prosecutors in Germany rush to charge their prime suspect before he has a chance to walk free.
Madeleine, just three years old at the time, vanished in May 2007 while vacationing with her family in Praia da Luz, Portugal.
Her parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, were dining at a nearby restaurant when they discovered she was missing from their rental apartment. Her disappearance sparked an international search and became one of the most widely covered missing-person cases in modern history.
A heartbreaking anniversary
Now, 17 years later, Kate and Gerry McCann are still searching for answers. Marking this tragic milestone, the couple released a touching statement:
“It’s 17 years since Madeleine was taken from us. It’s hard to even say that number without shaking our heads in disbelief. Whilst we are fortunate in many ways and able to live a relatively normal and enjoyable life now, the ‘living in limbo’ is still very unsettling. And the absence still aches.
Your support continues to encourage us and bolsters our strength to keep going. We know the love and hope for Madeleine and the will to find her, even after so many years, remains, and we are truly thankful for that.
Thank you again for remembering Madeleine and all missing children. Kate and Gerry.”
Suspect’s potential release raises alarm
For years, German authorities have been investigating Christian Brückner, a 48-year-old convicted offender, in connection with Madeleine’s disappearance.
A former prison cellmate of Christian B. came forward with an explosive claim last year. Romanian national Laurentiu Codin, 50, testified at Braunschweig Regional Court that Christian B. once boasted about abducting a child in Portugal.
”He told me that in Portugal, that he had stolen there… he was in a region of hotels where people are there, not sure how you say, rich people, where rich people live,” Codin recalled.
“And when he was in the area of the hotels where the rich people live, there was somewhere an open window, he told me this, and this was the reason he asked me whether fingerprints could be left when he went out of the window.
”He said he went into the flat because of money and said that he didn’t find any money, but found a kid, and took the child, and that two hours later, the place he was, it was then surrounded by police and dogs.”
”And he then went away, out of the area, I am just saying what he told me… and he took the child in Portugal in his car, and in the time when the police and dogs were there at the house, he drove away, and he was gone, he asked me if the DNA from a child can be found as evidence and I answered yes.”
Speaking outside the courthouse, the defendant’s lawyer, Philipp Marquart, dismissed the testimony, stating: ”All of these claims are completely new. All of them. He has never said anything like this before, and they all contradict each other.”
Serving a 7-year prison sentence
Officially named a suspect in 2022, Christian B is currently serving a seven-year prison sentence for unrelated crimes. However, new developments suggest he may be eligible for early release — a move that could drastically impact the McCann case.
Braunschweig Chief Public Prosecutor Hans Christian Wolters confirmed to The Independent that Christian B. has requested early release, with the Hildesheim Regional Court yet to rule on the motion. The uncertainty surrounding this decision has left investigators on edge.
A source close to the case told The Sun:
“Normally a move like his bid for an early release would be laughed out of court. But everyone is very nervous after what happened with his r* trial last year. The court was surprisingly favorable to him.”
According to the source, German prosecutors fear that allowing Christian B. to walk free could be disastrous for the McCann case.
“Charging over Madeleine would be the only ace left up their sleeve for keeping Christian B. behind bars,” the source added. “Let’s hope they don’t need it.”
What happens next?
If the court grants Christian B. early release, Madeleine’s legal team is expected to immediately appeal the decision — potentially delaying his release for months. Should the appeal fail, prosecutors may have no choice but to officially charge him in connection with Madeleine’s disappearance in order to keep him in custody.
As this high-stakes legal battle unfolds, the McCanns and their supporters remain hopeful that justice will finally be served after nearly two decades of searching for answers.
