Madeleine McCann cops identify more areas linked to suspect
New leads have emerged in the 16-year-old case of missing British toddler, Madeleine McCann, according to sources close to the investigation. Investigators are now interested in additional locations near the Praia da Luz resort in Portugal where the child was last seen in May 2007, and linked to prime suspect, Christian Brueckner. Last week, police from Portugal, the UK, and Germany spent three days investigating the Barragem do Arade dam in the Algarve, after a “very credible tip” suggested Brueckner had visited the site shortly after the toddler’s disappearance. Now, the investigators have identified other sites captured in more than 8,000 images of Christian Brueckner which they hope will shed light on the case.
Who is Christian Brueckner?
Christian Brueckner is a German national and convicted rapist, currently serving time in Germany for a 2005 rape. He was officially named a suspect in the McCann case in April 2022, and was living in the Praia da Luz at the time of Madeleine’s disappearance.
What happened to Madeleine McCann?
Madeleine McCann went missing on May 3, 2007, while on vacation with her family in Portugal. She was three years old at the time and was last seen sleeping alongside her infant siblings in their family’s vacation apartment. Her parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, were dining with friends at a tapas restaurant nearby and noticed that she was missing at 10 p.m. when Kate McCann returned to check on the children.
What is the significance of the new leads?
The renewed effort to investigate the case may be one of the biggest breakthroughs in the case since the toddler’s disappearance, according to investigators. The authorities are hoping that new clues or evidence could emerge from the additional locations identified in the images captured by Brueckner.
Why do German investigators believe that the initial Portuguese search was botched?
According to the source, the German investigators believe that the original Portuguese investigation was poorly carried out. They believe that fresh work and examination of new areas could provide new clues that could unlock the case.
What is Brueckner’s legal team saying?
Those connected with Brueckner’s legal team have criticized the renewed effort to investigate the case, calling it a “waste of time.” They maintain that Brueckner did not kill Madeleine McCann and that the continued focus on him takes attention away from finding out who is responsible for the child’s disappearance.
Police investigating Madeleine McCann case discover additional locations connected to suspect.
Investigators working on the case of missing British toddler Madeleine McCann have identified two additional sites connected to the prime suspect, Christian Brueckner, that may provide new leads regarding her disappearance, according to sources. Police are reportedly interested in other locations near the Praia da Luz resort in Portugal, where Madeleine was last seen in May 2007, a source close to the case told The Sun. Last week, officials from Portugal, the UK, and Germany searched the Barragem do Arade dam in Algarve for three days, after a “very credible tip” suggested Brueckner visited the site following Madeleine’s disappearance. German officials have reviewed over 8,000 pictures related to Brueckner, leading them to the dam and other unidentified locations nearby. Brueckner, a convicted rapist, is currently in prison in Germany for the 2005 rape of an elderly woman. He was officially named a suspect in the McCann case in April 2022. Last week’s search at the Arade reservoir aimed to uncover a stolen gun and camcorder, which is purported to contain footage of Brueckner raping at least two women. According to sources, police allegedly found a “relevant clue” before calling off the search.
The renewed effort is considered a major breakthrough in the case, which has remained unsolved for nearly two decades since Madeleine disappeared from her family’s vacation apartment while her parents were dining with friends nearby. The German investigators leading the probe into Brueckner’s possible involvement believe that the initial Portuguese search was mishandled, which is why they remain skeptical of the investigation conducted by the Portuguese police. Brueckner’s legal team has slammed the search efforts as a “waste of time.”