Investigators scouring a 120-acre stretch of scrubland near Praia da Luz, Portugal, have concluded their latest search in the Madeleine McCann case with no breakthrough — despite uncovering guns, fragments of animal bones, and pieces of clothing.
Portuguese police have now officially stated that none of the items discovered — including two rusted firearms — are believed to be linked to the disappearance of the British toddler.
One of the guns, found in a drained well, has already been ruled out entirely, deemed to be more than 50 years old and “irrelevant” to the inquiry.
“The objects found are very old and very rusty. I’d describe them almost as archaeological artefacts,” one Portuguese investigator told reporters, per The Mirror. “The feeling on the Portuguese side at least is that what’s been unearthed… is unlikely to have anything to do with the suspect Christian Brueckner or the Madeleine McCann investigation.”
Fragments Found — but Portuguese Authorities Say No Links to Maddie
Last week’s three-day joint search operation, requested by German prosecutors and carried out by Portuguese and German authorities, saw multiple sites around the Algarve combed for evidence.
Bones believed to be from animals and fragments of adult clothing were also among the items collected.
Early reports suggested these items were being sent to Germany for forensic analysis — but this was later disputed. Portuguese sources confirmed the testing would take place locally in Lisbon, with results sent to German authorities.
“No samples of any kind have been sent back to Germany,” Portuguese police emphasized.
German Prosecutors Maintain Focus on Christian Brueckner
Despite recent findings offering no new evidence, German prosecutors remain focused on convicted rapist Christian Brueckner, who lived near the area when Madeleine vanished in 2007.
Brueckner is currently serving a sentence for a 2005 rape in Praia da Luz and is set for release in September unless new charges are filed.
In a handwritten jailhouse letter, Brueckner has mocked the investigation: “Is there a body? No, no no,” he wrote, going on to taunt police with questions about DNA, photos, and traces of Madeleine.
“All no, no no. The accusations… will not hold up and the investigation will be dropped," he wrote in his letter.
Brueckner’s history is chilling. After allegedly confessing to knowing what happened to Madeleine during a drunken conversation in 2017, German authorities ramped up efforts.
They linked him to disturbing discoveries at a property in Germany: 75 girls’ swimsuits, children’s toys, a toddler’s bike, and an 80GB hard drive with horrifying images, per The Express. A tale, allegedly written by Brueckner, described the drugging and abduction of a woman and child.
Portuguese Tip-Off Ignored by German Courts
Adding fuel to the fire, Portuguese media report that German authorities dismissed a separate theory involving a British man and his German wife. The woman was allegedly driving drunk near the Ocean Club when Madeleine disappeared.
Portuguese newspaper Correio da Manha claims: “German prosecutors were asked to authorise a covert police operation… but the courts refused.”
“It was decided to continue solely with the investigation into suspect Christian Brueckner, rejecting other possibilities.”
Local Officials Call Latest Search a "Waste of Time"
The recent operation — estimated to have cost around £300,000 — was met with skepticism by some on the ground. One officer told MailOnline: “We always knew it was going to be a waste of time but we have to show cooperation.
"What did they expect to find after 18 years?”
That hasn’t stopped speculation. According to CNN Portugal and Correio da Manha, some of the unearthed items will still undergo “careful analysis” to assess any investigative value. Meanwhile, The Olive Press reported that the search was carried out in an area between Brueckner’s old home and the Ocean Club apartment where Madeleine disappeared.
As Brueckner Eyes Release, Urgency Mounts
The race against the clock is on. Brueckner is scheduled for release in September, though his lawyer says he may not be freed immediately due to outstanding fines.
“I don’t think he will be coming out in September as he doesn’t have any money to pay the fines,” Brueckner’s lawyer told MailOnline.
Whether new charges can be filed in time remains unclear.
Madeleine McCann was just three years old when she vanished from her family’s holiday apartment in Praia da Luz on May 3, 2007. The UK’s Operation Grange has spent more than £13.2 million on the case since 2011. Five British officers are still assigned to the investigation.
Eighteen years later, the mystery continues to haunt. Local residents told the BBC: “We hope her family get closure.”