Christian Brückner, 49, leaves after serving time for rape and will have to follow surveillance rules
German Christian Brückner, 49, considered the main suspect in Madeleine McCann’s disappearance, left Sehnde’s arrest in Baixa Saxony, Germany, this Wednesday (17.Set.2025). He had been sentenced to 7 years in prison for the rape of a 72 -year -old woman in 2005 in Praia da Luz, in the Algarve – the same region of southern Portugal where the British girl disappeared 2 years later.
According to German press, Brückner left the prison unit around 9:15 am (4:15 in Brasilia), covered by a blanket in the backseat of his lawyer’s car, in an attempt to avoid pursuit of the British press, who closely follows all the consequences of the case.
The suspect had signed on 9 September an agreement with the Hildesheim Regional Court that allowed its early departure, but subject to supervision rules:
- Use of electronic anklet;
- Regular presentation to the Conditional Freedom Service;
- obligation of fixed residence;
- Repealed Passport;
- Identity document restricted to Germany;
- prohibition of leaving the country without permission.
The defense lawyers said they will appeal against the order of probative supervision, alleging excessive restrictions.
Brückner has never been formally accused of Madeleine’s disappearance. The authorities of Germany, the United Kingdom and Portugal say there are no conclusive forensics that call the case, but highlight their criminal history and proximity to the Algarve region, where it would have lived from 1995 to 2007. During this period, it was investigated for theft in hotels and vacation apartments.
Madeleine McCann disappeared on May 3, 2007, at age 3, while spending his parents and friends at a resort on Praia da Luz. The disappearance mobilized police forces from 3 countries, as well as intense media coverage, and follows unresolved almost 20 years later.
In June this year, the Portuguese PJ (Judicial Police) even made new search related to the disappearance. The searches ended without finding relevant traces from the point of view of the investigation.
