Madeleine McCann's parents have shared a heartbreaking message in honor of their missing daughter's 21st birthday.
Madeleine was just three years old when she suddenly went missing while the family was on vacation in Praia da Luz, Portugal in 2007. At the time, her parents - Kate and Gerry McCann - were eating at a restaurant nearby.
The story made global headlines with authorities in both the UK and Portugal rallying to find the missing toddler.
The British and Portuguese authorities invested millions into trying to come to a positive conclusion - but sadly, 17 years on, the case has not been solved and Madeleine still remains missing.
On May 12, Kate and Gerry McCann released a statement marking their daughter's 21st birthday.
In a heartbreaking statement shared to their official campaign to find her, they wrote: "Happy 21st birthday Madeleine", adding: "Still missing. Still missed. Still looking."
Hundreds of people gathered in the comment section to leave their well wishes too.
"So sad. She should be here celebrating with her friends and family. I hope that wherever she is she is found one day," wrote one person, while another added: "Happy 21st birthday!! We love you so much, sweetheart. We're still looking for you, never losing hope. Lights will guide you home."
It comes shortly after the pair released yet another heartbreaking statement on the 17th anniversary of their daughter's disappearance.
"It’s 17 years since Madeleine was taken from us. It’s hard to even say that number without shaking our heads in disbelief," they wrote via their official social media pages. "Whilst we are fortunate in many ways and able to live a relatively normal and enjoyable life now, the ‘living in limbo’ is still very unsettling. And the absence still aches."
The couple also thanked the public for their support over the years, adding: "Your support continues to encourage us and bolsters our strength to keep going.
"We know the love and hope for Madeleine and the will to find her, even after so many years, remains, and we are truly thankful for that.
"Thank you again for remembering Madeleine and all missing children. Kate and Gerry," they concluded.
While no one has been fully convicted for Madeleine's disappearance, there is one major suspect in the case.
Christian Brueckner, a convicted pedophile from Germany, was named the prime suspect in her disappearance back in 2020.
He has previously been convicted of unrelated counts of child sexual abuse and drug trafficking and has been serving a prison sentence in Germany since 2019 for raping a 72-year-old American pensioner in the Algarve region.
He is also accused of five unrelated sexual offenses committed in Portugal between 2000 and 2017, and was given arguido (suspect) status by Portuguese authorities in 2022, meaning he could be extradited to the country for formal questioning.
However, he denies being involved in Madeleine's disappearance, and due to a technical issue involving Brueckner's last address in Germany, there has been some confusion over which court would be responsible for the case.
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