The prime suspect in the disappearance of British toddler Madeleine McCann was released from prison this week, and the person responsible claims it’s the result of an error.
Christian Brueckner, a convicted rapist identified by German prosecutors as a suspect in the McCann case, completed his sentence for an unrelated rape case on Wednesday. He was subsequently driven out of Sehnde Prison in north Germany in a black Audi, accompanied by his lawyer and a police escort.
According to a report by German outlet Der Spiegel, Brueckner’s release was made possible after a former German federal police employee paid off an outstanding fine related to other offenses.
The individual in question reportedly did not realize what the money was for and attempted to retrieve it.
Brueckner has been considered the prime suspect in the Madeleine McCann case since 2020, though no formal charges have ever been filed in connection with her disappearance. Up until earlier this week, he was serving a seven-year sentence for the 2005 rape of a 72-year-old woman in Praia da Luz in 2005.
In June, German and Portuguese authorities launched a new search in the Algarve region, near the area where the convicted sex offender once lived, hoping to find evidence connecting him to missing Madeleine, who vanished from a hotel room while on holiday with her parents.
Jon Clarke, editor of the Spanish newspaper Olive Press, revealed that though Brueckner is now technically free, he’s still facing ‘two imminent verdicts’ in Germany.
“The police will keep a very close eye on him when he is out to prevent him reoffending again,” Clarke explained.
“In fact I’ve been told there are many activities being carried out by various law enforcement authorities at the moment to lower the risk as far as possible.
“He is going to need to give a proper address and will have a probation officer checking him very closely.”
It was previously reported that German authorities wanted Brueckner tagged, his passport confiscated, and the suspect kept under close surveillance. An obvious concern is that Brueckner may try to flee to a country with no extradition treaty with the U.K. or EU.
Brueckner has repeatedly denied any involvement in Madeleine’s disappearance. At the time of her disappearance, he was living in a rundown farmhouse on the edge of Praia da Luz.
German prosecutor Hans Christian Wolters, who is leading the investigation, has previously said his office is “sure” Brueckner killed the three-year-old.
“There is no-one else. We have evidence which speaks against [Brückner], which indicates that he is responsible for the disappearance and the death of Madeleine McCann. We haven’t found anything in the last five years that exonerates [him]. We found evidence that strengthens our case. But in our view it’s not strong enough to make a guilty verdict likely, and that’s why so far we couldn’t charge him or apply for an arrest warrant.”
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