Madeleine McCann Case Takes Dramatic Turn as Key Suspect Nears Release

Eighteen years after three-year-old Madeleine McCann vanished without a trace in Portugal, the investigation has been shaken by a major development: the man long believed to be at the center of the case could soon walk free.

Christian Brueckner, a convicted rapist and registered sex offender, is serving a prison sentence in Germany that is due to expire in mid-September. According to multiple European reports, his release could come even earlier—potentially within the next two weeks.

Still No Justice for Madeleine

Madeleine disappeared in May 2007 while on holiday with her parents in Praia da Luz, Algarve. Despite worldwide coverage, endless theories, and years of police work in both Portugal and the U.K., the mystery remains unsolved.

In recent years, German investigators shifted the focus squarely onto Brueckner, who lived in the Algarve at the time of Madeleine’s disappearance. In June, German and Portuguese police carried out yet another search near a reservoir close to one of his former homes, but no breakthrough was announced.

A Chilling Past

Brueckner, 48, is currently serving a seven-year sentence for the violent 2005 rape of a 72-year-old woman, which occurred just a short distance from where Madeleine went missing two years later. His DNA—one of his hairs—was found at the crime scene, sealing his conviction.

That sentence is scheduled to end officially on September 17, but insiders suggest he could be released quietly up to 10 days early.

A German source told The Olive Press:

“They don’t want a circus. He will be let out discreetly, partly to avoid vigilante justice, but also because investigators may still need him if charges over Maddie’s case move forward. They are convinced he is the man, but the challenge has always been proving it in court.”

Lawyers Push Back

Brueckner’s legal team has rejected the rumors, saying they have not been informed of any early release plans. His lawyers insist that if he is freed, he should be treated like any other prisoner who has served his time, pointing out that no formal charges have been filed against him in the McCann case.

Nevertheless, German prosecutors have previously stated publicly that they are “certain” Brueckner killed Madeleine. Hans Christian Wolters, who leads the investigation, told the press:

“There is no one else. Every piece of evidence we have points to Brueckner. Nothing we’ve uncovered over the last five years clears him—in fact, it only strengthens the suspicion. But it’s not yet enough for a guaranteed conviction, and that is the obstacle.”

Supervision or Escape?

If freed, Brueckner could be placed under führungsaufsicht—a special supervision program for high-risk ex-prisoners in Germany. This would restrict his movements, ban him from areas frequented by children, require regular police check-ins, and even limit where he can live.

Authorities also want his passport seized to prevent him from fleeing to a non-extradition country. However, Brueckner’s lawyer has already hinted that he may try to vanish if released.

Families Still Waiting

For the McCann family, the latest twist is a painful reminder of how close yet far the case remains from resolution. Almost two decades later, there is still no trial, no conviction, and no closure.

Madeleine’s face remains one of the most recognized images in the world, symbolizing both hope and heartbreak. And while police in Germany insist they are working “day and night” to secure enough evidence, time may soon run out to keep their prime suspect under lock and key.