McCann case prime suspect Brueckner released from German prison wearing ankle tag

Christian Brueckner, the German national prosecutors have named as the prime suspect in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, was released from Sehnde prison near Hanover on Wednesday morning after serving six years of a seven-year sentence on a separate conviction. He was ordered to wear an electronic ankle monitor for five years and to report changes of residence and other conditions to authorities, with the monitoring arrangement in effect even as questions linger about the McCann case.

Brueckner left the facility in the back of a black Audi accompanied by his lawyer at about 9:15 a.m. local time, photographs showed. He was wearing a purple pinstriped shirt and the ankle device, and was photographed pausing for a cigarette and stopping at a McDonald’s outlet, where he reportedly ate a cheeseburger and chicken nuggets while holding food in both hands. The image was reported by Bild, which cited the scene as he left the prison and began what prosecutors described as a period of freedom under supervision.

The release comes with conditions. Prosecutor Hans Christian Wolters said Brueckner must promptly notify the court of his residence and obtain court approval for any change in where he stays. He will be assigned a probation officer and must maintain monthly contact. If he violates the terms, the consequences can include fines or imprisonment for up to three years. Officials stressed that the ankle monitor does not apply if he leaves Germany, a point Wolters underscored as investigators continue to track his movements and potential associations.

German prosecutors named Brueckner as their top suspect in Madeleine McCann’s 2007 disappearance in 2020. He has publicly denied involvement in the case, and prosecutors have said he has not been charged due to insufficient evidence. His release, they added, has no direct impact on the McCann investigations, which remain ongoing and open to new lines of inquiry. The spokespersons stressed that investigators are reviewing new material from the June search in Praia da Luz and considering additional leads as they pursue the broader case.

Brueckner’s criminal history is extensive. He was convicted for the rape of a 72-year-old American woman in 2005 in the Praia da Luz area, near where McCann disappeared, and served six years of a seven-year sentence. Der Spiegel and other outlets have reported that, by 2020, his record included numerous entries for violence, theft, and drunken driving. In addition, he received a suspended sentence in 2011 for cannabis dealing on the North Sea island of Sylt, where he has long been linked to various activities. Prosecutors and Brueckner’s defense have offered sharply different characterizations of his risk and the prospects for reintegration, with the defense arguing that he has served his time and should be free to move, while prosecutors caution that he remains dangerous and capable of reoffending.

Legal counsel for Brueckner rejected accusations that the McCann investigation has substance insufficient to charge him, telling German media that the case against his client lacks a foundation. In a separate interview, Wolters acknowledged that while investigators have found evidence suggesting Brueckner’s possible involvement, it has not reached the threshold required for a criminal conviction. The public debate over Brueckner’s status reflects the broader tension between ongoing, multi-jurisdictional inquiries into McCann’s fate and the legal standards required to secure a trial.

Beyond Germany, the case continues to reverberate in Portugal and the United Kingdom. The Metropolitan Police, which maintains the Madeleine McCann missing person inquiry, said it is taking stock of the German and Portuguese investigations now that Brueckner has been released. Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley noted that while Brueckner remains a suspect in the wider case, authorities are evaluating how new information from European investigations fits within the ongoing search for clarity about McCann’s disappearance.

Brueckner’s release has reignited public and family concern about safety and the risk profile of a figure prosecutors describe as highly dangerous. Brueckner’s case has spurred debate about monitoring, mobility restrictions, and the handling of suspects who are tied to high-profile missing-person inquiries but not yet charged. As authorities in multiple countries cooperate on the McCann investigation, analysts say the coming months could determine whether new charges arise or whether Brueckner’s case remains defined by a long-running, multifaceted inquiry rather than a courtroom verdict.