German Suspect in Madeleine McCann Case Released After Serving Unrelated Sentence

Christian Brückner, a German national under investigation for the 2007 disappearance of British toddler Madeleine McCann, was released from prison on Wednesday after serving a seven-year sentence for the 2005 rape of a 72-year-old American woman in Portugal. Brückner, 48, has been identified as a suspect in McCann's case since June 2020, when German prosecutors announced they were investigating him on suspicion of murder. Despite extensive searches and investigations in Portugal, Brückner has not been charged in connection with McCann's disappearance and denies any involvement. His release does not affect the ongoing investigation, according to authorities. Brückner remains a suspect in the British Metropolitan Police's investigation into McCann's disappearance; however, he has refused their request for an interview. His lawyer, Friedrich Fülscher, stated that charges would have been filed against his client long ago if there had been sufficient evidence. Brückner spent many years in Portugal, including in Praia da Luz around the time of Madeleine's disappearance. In October 2024, he was acquitted of several unrelated sexual offenses alleged to have occurred in Portugal between 2000 and 2017, with the court citing insufficient evidence and unreliable witnesses. Following his release, Brückner is required to wear an electronic ankle monitor, report regularly to probation services, and surrender his passport. He faces an upcoming court date on October 27 in Oldenburg, Germany, for allegedly insulting a prison employee, a charge he is appealing.