LISBON (Portugal) — Madeleine McCann’s parents, a British toddler, said that Madeleine disappeared from her apartment in Portugal during her family vacation 15 years ago. This story captured worldwide attention and they are hopeful that police in three countries will finally solve the mystery.
Gerry McCann and Kate McCann, British doctors who live in England, stated in a statement Tuesday to commemorate the anniversary of their daughter’s disappearance.
On the website to find Madeleine, they stated that their need for answers and the truth was essential.
They thanked the British, Portuguese, and German police for continuing to investigate what happened when the 3-year old disappeared from her Algarve bed. While her parents were having dinner at a nearby restaurant, she was in the same bedroom as her twin sister and brother, aged 2 years.
Portuguese prosecutors have officially charged the latest suspect in this investigation last month.
In accordance with Portuguese privacy laws they didn’t identify the suspect but stated that they were responding to a request from German authorities and in coordination of British investigators.
Germany’s police named Christian Brueckner (a 45-year old German citizen who had been in Algarve in 2007) as a suspect in the case in mid-2020. Brueckner denied any involvement in Madeleine’s disappearance.
Portugal’s accusation stops the statute of limitations from running in this case. Although the statute of limitations would have expired 15 years after the crime was committed, it is halted by accusing a suspect.
Madeleine disappeared, sparking worldwide interest. There were claims that people saw her from Australia. Books and TV documentaries have been published about the case.
Rewards for finding Madeleine reached several million dollars.
There were some shocking developments in the case. After police discovered blood traces in Madeleine’s vacation rental car, police briefly identified Madeleine and her parents as the official suspects.
