Seventeen years ago, Madeleine McCann disappeared from a holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, Portugal, while her parents were out. The case remains one of the most reported missing-persons in history.
Last year, her parents, Gerry and Kate McCann, shared an emotional message, expressing the pain of their daughter’s absence: “Even saying 17 years is hard to believe. While we live somewhat normal lives, the pain is sharp.” They thanked supporters for their ongoing encouragement.
The prime suspect, 48-year-old German Christian Brückner, is serving a prison sentence for a 2005 rape in Praia da Luz and faces trial for another alleged rape. A witness claimed Brückner confessed to abducting a child from an apartment in Portugal, but his lawyer dismissed the testimony.
Brückner has requested early release, raising concerns among legal experts. If granted, it could impact the McCann case, forcing prosecutors to charge him to keep him incarcerated. The McCanns remain hopeful for justice.