Christian Brueckner, the prime suspect in the 2007 disappearance of Madeleine McCann, was recently released from a German jail after serving six years of a seven-year sentence for an unrelated rape conviction. His release has heightened scrutiny regarding the high-profile missing persons case, marked by a series of unsettling behaviors and renewed focus on his potential involvement.

Following his release, Brueckner allegedly made striking claims while attempting to purchase an untraceable phone. A phone shop manager reported that Brueckner boasted he could solve "the scandal of the century" and one of the "greatest mysteries ever," implying he possessed evidence, possibly on USB sticks, that could end accusations against him. These statements have intensified concerns that he holds crucial information about Madeleine McCann's fate, who vanished from her bed in a holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, Portugal, at age three. Brueckner has consistently refused to cooperate with police or answer questions about the case while incarcerated.

Adding to the unsettling picture, Brueckner was reportedly seen wearing a fake beard after his release, attempting to disguise himself while buying food, though he was still recognizable. Just 48 hours post-release, he was also spotted indulging in a "boozy night out" at a German nightclub, where his presence reportedly terrified other patrons who recognized the convicted sex offender.

Brueckner was released after serving time for the 2005 rape of a 72-year-old American woman in Praia da Luz, the same Portuguese seaside resort where Madeleine McCann went missing two years later. As part of his probationary supervision for the next five years, he has been ordered to wear an electronic ankle tag, declare a place of residence (currently emergency accommodation in Neumunster, 40 miles north of Hamburg), and obtain permission before changing his residence or leaving the country. His passport has also been cancelled. Prosecutors view these conditions as an attempt to maintain investigative detention and constant access to him, although Brueckner's legal team insists he has "served his time and can come and go as he pleases." German prosecutor Hans Christian Wolters warned that Brueckner remains dangerous and is likely to "relapse," stating, "He is not only our number one suspect he is our only suspect – there is no one else." The family of Brueckner's rape victim in the United States also expressed fears about his continued danger to the public.

Despite being named the prime suspect by German prosecutors in 2020, citing evidence such as mobile phone data that suggests he may have been in the area of Madeleine's disappearance, Brueckner has never been formally charged in relation to the McCann case. He denies any involvement, and authorities have yet to gather sufficient evidence for charges. Recent searches, including those near the Barragem do Arade reservoir in October last year and another between McCann's last known location and Brueckner's associated addresses in June this year, have not yielded major breakthroughs. A recent German court decision in October 2024, which cleared him of three charges of aggravated rape and two of sexual abuse of children, was considered a setback for prosecutors hoping to strengthen their case.

Brueckner's extensive criminal record dates back to his teenage years, including convictions for child sexual abuse and drug trafficking. The Metropolitan Police's Operation Grange, which continues to investigate Madeleine's disappearance with significant funding (£13.2 million since 2011), has requested an interview with Brueckner, but he has refused through an International Letter of Request. Madeleine's fate remains unknown, with no body ever found, although German police declared her assumed dead in June 2020. After leaving Sehnde prison on September 17, Brueckner made a brief stop for a burger and a hot drink at a McDonald's before proceeding to his emergency accommodation.