AS I uncovered bombshell new evidence for our Channel 4 documentary on the Madeleine McCann prime suspect, I quickly realised how hard it would be for the world to see – and to accept.
The heartbreaking reality is that there may be much worse to come – evidence that German police are still holding onto that they believe may point to how, why and when the British toddler died.
Madeleine McCann vanished from her bed in a holiday apartment in Portugal on May 3, 2007[/caption]
Prime suspect in the Brit toddler’s disappearance, Christian Brueckner, will walk free on September 17[/caption]
When the horrific details about adorable vanished-Madeleine are finally revealed, the world needs to brace itself – it will defy all laws of logic and decency.
But for now, it is crucial to understand the urgency of the situation we face.
Prime suspect Christian Brueckner – a highly-dangerous convicted rapist and paedophile – will walk free on September 17.
If that happens, he can be expected to leave Germany and travel to a country with a non-extradition treaty – taking with him all hopes of charges ever being brought before a court on the McCann case.
After months of trailing Brueckner, I could imagine nothing more terrifying than seeing him released back into society.
Not only have I combed over his past offences with sickening details of his depravity, but I have seen first hand the haul of circumstantial evidence against him.
After sitting on this information for months, it is frankly a relief to finally share it with the world in our dossier. The dossier contains evidence that deserves to be considered by a court.
It divides into two camps – first is evidence linking directly to the McCann case.
We have documents showing Brueckner WAS at the location where he spoke with a witness, allegedly confessing, “she didn’t scream” as they discussed Madeleine’s disappearance.
We can tie him to a key Maddie location that was searched by 100 cops in Portugal in 2023.
And we know of the existence of an 80gb hard drive and laptop containing images from Portugal – which is closely linked to cops’ belief that Maddie is in fact dead.
But secondly – and far more abhorrent – is the information we have found taking us inside Brueckner’s psyche, evidence in his own words that shows his obsession with snatching small children.
In sickening stories, he describes using kidnap chemical ether to trap a mum and small blonde toddler outside a pre-school before bundling them into a car.
He wrote: “When she came to the car with her little daughter in her hand and opened the back door, I was already standing behind the two of them, holding a rag soaked in ether.
“I forcefully pushed it into the woman’s face. At first, she fought hard, but I held her tight. The girl sat in the car and watched me with wide, horrified eyes.
As you watch the evidence unfold, as you see and hear his sick fantasies and creepy pictures, ask yourself: ‘What on Earth is this man really capable of?’
“When everything was done and the two bodies were hidden in the darkness, I got my van, loaded up my prey and drove away.
“I jump in and pick up the shaking bundle. Big, scared eyes look at me. I carry her out of the car, close the doors and walk her into the house.
“After I closed this door too, I thought to myself: Welcome to paradise.”
Children’s toys and bikes were found at the suspect’s lair[/caption]
Police also found an 80gb hard drive and laptop containing images from Portugal[/caption]
Cops found 75 youngsters’ swimming costumes at Brueckner’s bolthole in Neuwegersleben[/caption]
‘Chilling similarities’
Another story bears even more chilling similarities to Maddie, where Brueckner wrote: “A very small girl enters the room. She’s definitely not older than five.
“Blonde, long hair tied in pigtails bounces cheekily back and forth as she comes towards me.
“This is maid Annelie, she is four years old. I feel like I’m in paradise right now.”
In online messages, we uncovered that Brueckner bragged to another sicko that he really wanted to “capture something small and use it for days”.
He even threatened it wouldn’t matter “if the evidence is destroyed afterwards” and gleefully added: “I’ll make a lot of films… hehe.”
Such was the depravity of what he said – he panicked that he’d appalled the other paedophile he was chatting to.
Guns, children’s swimming costumes and toys and pictures of young girls kept in a metal case were all uncovered during police searches of Brueckner’s remote East German hideaway.
TIMELINE OF EVENTS
Here’s a timeline of the case which has gripped the world.
May 3, 2007
Madeleine McCann disappears from her family’s holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, Portugal, sparking a massive police search and becoming one of the most famous missing persons cases in history.
January 15, 2016
Neighbour reports a possible ‘grave’ at Brueckner’s abandoned factory in East Germany.
Cops find disturbing images on USB sticks and launch a full-scale search.
February 16, 2016
Christian Brueckner is convicted for abusing a girl of five in a park after images found on his laptop.
He was sentenced to 15-months behind bars but was already on the run by then.
May 3, 2017
Around this time, Helge B calls an information hotline after watching a ten-year anniversary special on the disappearance of Madeleine McCann.
He reports an alleged confession by Christian Brueckner.
September 27, 2018
On-the-run Christian Brueckner is arrested over outstanding drugs claims in Italy.
He is extradited to Germany the following year.
December 16, 2019
Christian Brueckner was convicted, in Germany, for the 2005 rape of an American woman in Praia da Luz, Portugal, after his DNA was matched to a hair found on her bed.
He was sentenced to seven years behind bars.
June 4, 2020
German prosecutors reveal to the world they have a suspect in custody under investigation for the abduction of Madeleine McCann.
For the first time they claim Madeleine is dead.
German media later name him as Christian B (Christian Brueckner).
June 23, 2023
In his first interview, witness Helge B alleges to German newspaper Bild that Christian Brueckner all-but-confessed the Madeleine abduction to him, by allegedly saying “she didn’t scream” as they talked about the case, at a music festival, in Spain.
February 16, 2024
Brueckner goes on trial accused of none-McCann allegations of rape and sex assault, in Braunschweig, Germany.
Prosecutors hope for a conviction to keep him behind bars permanently and lead to McCann charges.
October 8, 2024
Brueckner was acquitted of all claims.
Prosecutors launch an appeal, however. Decision pending.
September 17, 2025
Date on which Christian Brueckner will be released from custody without action being taken.
Prosecutors require an arrest warrant for a retrial over claims from last year – or over the McCann case.
We quickly realised there was so much evidence – so much to take in that a Sun documentary would explain the findings best.
Difficult as it will be to see, anyone who wants answers on the McCann case should tune in to Channel 4.
And as you watch the evidence unfold, as you see and hear his sick fantasies and creepy pictures, ask yourself: “What on earth is this man really capable of?”
A man whose phone was in Praia da Luz on the night Madeleine vanished.
A man who is convicted of a rape just streets from the Ocean Club where the McCanns stayed, in 2005.
A man who, in 19 weeks, will walk free.
Cops also uncovered unregistered guns[/caption]
Madeleine was three years old when she vanished in Praia da Luz[/caption]
