About Madeleine McCann

According to Find Madeleine, the official website dedicated to finding Madeleine McCann, Madeleine was “a very happy little girl with an outgoing personality. She has always been a very popular little person, appealing to both children and adults alike with her funny and engaging chatter.” This website has multiple sections, some of which include the opportunity to report sightings of any suspects and also offers support for other families going through similar situations.

Timeline

May 3, 2007

Madeleine was on vacation with her family in Praia da Luz, Portugal. Madeleine was left alone with her younger brother and sister in an apartment while her parents went to dinner with a group of friends. During a check-in from her mother, Kate McCann, it was discovered that Madeleine was gone. The police were called, and they searched for her through the night. (BBC News)

May 12, 2007

The police believe that Madeleine was abducted, but was still alive and in Portugal. 

May 26, 2007

The police describe a man seen on the night of McCann’s disappearance who was believed to have been carrying a child. 

June, 2007

A Portuguese police chief states that there could have been critical forensic evidence destroyed because the scene was not protected properly. 

July, 2007

British police dogs assist in the investigation, inspecting the McCanns’ apartment and rental car for evidence. 

August, 2007

Detectives publicly state that she may not be found alive.

September 6, 2007

Police question Kate McCann, and the McCanns’ return to the UK. 

November, 2007

Gerry McCann releases a video stating that he thinks his family was being watched days before Madeleine’s disappearance. 

January 20, 2008

The McCanns released sketches of a suspect drawn based on a description of a British holidaymaker said to be a “creepy man” who was seen at the resort. 

April, 2008

Portuguese police fly to the UK to witness the interviews of the McCanns’ friends whom they had dinner with the night of Madeleine’s disappearance. 

July, 2008

Portuguese police submit their final report on the case, but authorities then shift their investigation off from the McCanns. 

November 3, 2009

Images of how Madeleine might look are released. 

March, 2010

The McCanns criticize the release of unseen Portuguese police files that detail possible sightings of Madeleine to British newspapers. 

May, 2011

The McCanns publish a book titled “Madeleine,” which led to Prime Minister David Cameron asking the Metropolitan Police to help investigate. 

April, 2012

A computer-generated image of what Madeleine may look like is released. She would be nine at this point. Portuguese authorities state that they are not going to reopen the investigation.

July, 2013

It is announced that there is new evidence and witnesses, and a formal investigation is opened in the UK. 

October, 2013

It is stated that there are 41 potential suspects, which leads to the Portuguese police reopening their investigation.

January, 2014

British detectives fly to Portugal, claiming that they are going to make arrests. 

June, 2014

Praia de Luz is searched, but nothing of interest is found. 

July, 2014

Four suspects are questioned, but there are no new developments. 

2016

A hard drive containing information about a young girl being abused after a mother was drugged outside of the child’s bedroom was found. This was found at a factory owned by Christian Brueckner. At the factory, there were masks, chemicals, firearms, children’s clothing, 75 bathing suits, and toys. (Jerusalem Post)

April, 2017

The four official suspects are ruled out. 

June, 2020

Police reveal that a 43-year-old German prisoner, Christian B., is a suspect. German investigators classified the case as murder and assumed that Madeline was dead. 

April, 2022

Christian Brueckner was made a formal suspect because it was proven that he was in the area when Madeleine disappeared.

May 23, 2023

Police searched 30 miles off Praia da Luz after sealing off an area near a reservoir. They collected material that included soil samples, which were analyzed. 

May 15, 2025

Brueckner will be released from prison soon and has not had any formal charges put on him for the disappearance of Madeline because it can not yet be proven that he committed the crime. (BBC News)

Other Theories

Human Traffickers

One theory that people have come up with regarding Madeleine’s disappearance is that she was trafficked. This was a popular theory because no remains have been found, which indicates that she was not killed. Portugal’s geography indicates that it would be relatively easy to cross the border with Madeleine and to go to Spain and then Morocco. (Crime + Investigation UK)

Burglary Gone Wrong

Another popular theory is that burglars broke into the McCanns’ apartment and either took Madeleine on purpose, or were scared that she would catch them if she woke up, so they decided to take her instead. However, there was no indication of a break-in during the investigation, and no items were stolen, so this theory does not seem likely. 

Current Status

Madeleine remains missing, and the case has still not been solved. Christian Brueckner remains the primary suspect of her disappearance, but has not been charged with any crimes. A possible version of events is as follows: Brueckner likely drugged Madeleine, sexually assaulted her, and buried her or drowned her; her remains decomposed, and she will likely never be found. It was also a possible targeted attack because Mr. McCann stated that he had seen a man following them in the days prior to Madeleine’s disappearance. He may have stalked the family and seen that they had left for dinner without their children. What remains a mystery is how Madeleine’s siblings, Sean and Amelie, did not wake up or were taken as well. This indicates that there was only one perpetrator. 

On May 3, 2025, Kate and Gerry McCann stated on Find Madeleine, “May is also Madeleine’s birthday – her 22nd this year. No matter how near or far she is, she continues to be right here with us, every day, but especially on her special day. We continue to ‘celebrate’ her as the very beautiful and unique person she is. We miss her.” Madeleine has been missing for 18 years now and would have turned 22 this week.