Missing Madeleine McCann: everything there is to know

Police begin search of Algarve reservoir in connection with German suspect Christian Brueckner

Stars Insider

22/05/23 | StarsInsider

LIFESTYLE Breaking news

It's the case that shocked the world. Three-year-old Madeleine McCann disappeared from her parents' apartment while on holiday in Portugal in 2007. The young girl was left alone with her siblings, and has not been seen since. It's one of the most complicated criminal cases in history, with unreliable evidence, false leads, and police suspicion of the McCann parents.

The case was unprecedented for many reasons. It’s arguably the most infamous missing persons case ever, still unsolved after all these years. The news spread like wildfire back in 2007, partly thanks to the introduction of social media, which saw pictures of McCann shared throughout the world. A big reason the case is so infamous is its ambiguity, and up until very recently, there has never been a key suspect or lead, apart from the parents. Many are divided about the McCann parents, with some actually thinking they had a role in their daughter’s disappearance. It’s truly the greatest true crime story of our times, but surely there’s an answer to this unending mystery.

In 2020, the case had its biggest break in more than a decade. German authorities closed in on a man named Christian Brueckner—a convicted sex offender serving time in German prison who happened to have been in the Algarve at the time of Madeleine's disappearance. Their investigation is still ongoing, but on May 22, 2023, authorities began an extensive search of a reservoir in the Algarve. Sources say it is a German-led operation supported by the local Portuguese police. The remote reservoir has been noted as a spot that Brueckner visited regularly during his time living in the Algarve. Authorities have yet to make a statement on the search and what new evidence or tips may have triggered it. 

Meanwhile, in Germany, there are concerns that a change in jurisdiction may help Brueckner avoid charges. His possible connection to the McCann case was first discovered by police in the city of Braunschweig, but sources say that the investigation may be transferred to the German state Saxony-Anhalt because of Brueckner's connection to the region. This means a new prosecutor's office would take over the case, taking it out of the hands of the investigators who have made the most progress in the search for Madeleine. Regardless, Brueckner's lawyer appears to be looking for loopholes and is already filing for a dismissal of his client's case. 

Click on to go over the details of the case and learn about the most recent developments. 

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