Christian Brückner Released: Implications for the Madeleine McCann Case

Thu Sep 18 2025 09:02:19 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Christian Brückner, the prime suspect in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, has been released from a German prison, raising questions about the future of the ongoing investigation.

Christian Brückner, the chief suspect in the disappearance of British toddler Madeleine McCann, has been released from a German prison after serving time for an unrelated crime. Brückner, who continues to deny any involvement in McCann's disappearance, is now under strict probationary conditions, including wearing an electronic ankle monitor. Authorities have not yet gathered sufficient evidence to charge him in the McCann case, which remains one of the world's most high-profile unsolved mysteries.

The prime suspect in the high-profile case of Madeleine McCann's disappearance has been released from prison in Germany, where he has been serving a sentence for an unrelated offence.

Christian Brückner was driven out in a black Audi by his lawyer with a police escort shortly after 09:00 local time (07:00 GMT). Brückner wasn't visible in the car but police confirmed he had left Sehnde prison.

He had been convicted of raping a 72-year-old American woman in Portugal in 2005, and will be fitted with an ankle tag after his release from the prison near the northern city of Hanover.

The German national, 48, has never been charged with any crime in relation to the McCann case. He denies any involvement.

Local police spokesman Lars Dehnert told the BBC: We said before that we wanted this to happen as smoothly as possible, adding that Brückner would be escorted for a short distance.

In the UK, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley stated Brückner remains a suspect for us, emphasizing that the investigation into Madeleine's disappearance remains a missing person inquiry.

Madeleine was just three years old when she vanished in 2007 while on holiday with her family in Portugal. Despite extensive searches and investigations, her case remains unsolved. The evidence linking Brückner to her disappearance is still being evaluated by authorities, with some confidence in his possible involvement but no strong enough evidence for charges. As he adapts to life outside prison, the ongoing investigation and the public's interest in the case continue to put pressure on law enforcement.