Christian Brückner Released from Prison Amid Ongoing Investigation into Madeleine McCann's Disappearance

Tue Oct 21 2025 00:49:03 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

The prime suspect in the Madeleine McCann case, Christian Brückner, has been released from a German prison after serving time for an unrelated crime, retaining his status as a suspect in the high-profile missing person's investigation.

Christian Brückner, the prime suspect in Madeleine McCann's disappearance, has been released from a German prison where he served time for a sexual assault conviction. Despite his release, he remains a suspect in the ongoing investigation into McCann's case. He is required to wear an ankle monitor and adhere to various legal conditions. Local authorities and police continue to gather evidence in the investigation, which remains unresolved since McCann vanished in 2007.

Christian Brückner has been released from a German prison after serving a sentence for an unrelated sexual assault. Police confirmed his release from Sehnde prison, where he had been incarcerated following his conviction for raping a 72-year-old American woman in Portugal in 2005. Shortly after his release, Brückner was driven away in a black Audi by his lawyer, escorted by police.

The German national, 48, continues to deny any involvement in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, who vanished in Portugal in 2007 at the age of three. Despite being a prime suspect, Brückner has not been charged in connection with the case due to the lack of sufficient evidence. German prosecutors had previously indicated they believe he is responsible, citing mobile phone data suggesting he was in the area when McCann disappeared.

Brückner is required to wear an electronic ankle monitor for five years and must check in with a probation officer monthly. The UK police, including Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley, have reiterated that he remains a suspect, and investigations into McCann's case continue, with significant resources having been allocated since her disappearance.

In recent years, further searches in Portugal and around Praia da Luz, where McCann disappeared, yielded no breakthroughs. Brückner's past includes several convictions related to sexual offenses, and concerns remain about the possibility of reoffending.