Six new pieces of evidence have been discovered that could shed further light on the disappearance of Madeleine McCann.
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Long-time suspect Christian Brueckner, 47, is back in the spotlight after investigators revealed what they found inside an abandoned factory he bought in 2008.
The discoveries are nothing short of chilling — and they’ve led authorities to the conclusion that Madeleine, who disappeared in 2007 while on holiday in Portugal, is no longer alive, as reported by the Sun.
In what’s being called a major breakthrough in one of the world’s most haunting missing child cases, German police say the material recovered from Brueckner’s property paints a deeply disturbing picture of a man with an obsession that may have turned deadly.
For Madeleine’s parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, the search for answers has spanned nearly two decades.
"All we have ever wanted is to find her, uncover the truth and bring those responsible to justice," the couple said in 2020, as per People. "We will never give up hope of finding Madeleine alive but whatever the outcome may be, we need to know, as we need to find peace."
Now, German police believe they’ve finally uncovered what really happened to the little girl — and why Brueckner is at the center of it all.
The disturbing trail began in 2016, when a dog ran into the grounds of a disused factory in Neuwegersleben, central Germany, and began digging at what looked like a grave.
Investigators found the remains of Brueckner’s own dead dog buried at the site — but underneath, they discovered something far more sinister: a wallet containing six USB sticks and two memory cards.
That discovery triggered a full-scale search of the property by 100 officers. What they uncovered stunned all of the detectives.
Children’s clothes, toys, and over 75 children’s swimming costumes were found scattered around the abandoned property — despite the fact that Brueckner has no children of his own. Unlicensed guns, ammunition, chemicals, masks, and bikes were also uncovered.
A metal suitcase was found containing images of young girls. Police also located a case of pictures of girls aged four and five, along with a list of phone numbers and an address book.
One of the most damning pieces of evidence was a hard drive hidden in a laptop that contained horrifying photos and detailed stories written by Brueckner himself.
Among the stories: him describing how he drugged a mother and daughter outside a pre-school, and how he abused a four-year-old blonde girl. In disturbing Skype chats with other paedophiles, he discussed wanting to “capture something small and use it for days.”
The content was so depraved that investigators now believe it proves Madeleine died shortly after her disappearance.
Photos recovered from Brueckner’s hard drive also show him at Arade Dam — a location of intense interest to investigators. The site, located around 35 miles from Praia da Luz, was searched in 2023.
Brueckner is seen posing naked and wearing a mask in the images — masks eerily similar to those found at his lair.
A satnav device found at the site confirmed his repeated movements around the area in the years following Madeleine’s disappearance.
Authorities also discovered a car that matched the description of Brueckner’s vehicle. Inside were bottles of unknown substances, which investigators destroyed without testing.
Based on stories Brueckner had written, police suspect the bottles may have contained chloroform or ether — chemicals he had fantasised about using to subdue victims.
“In his stories found on the hard drive, Brueckner fantasised about using ether to kidnap victims,” authorities stated.
Another major piece of evidence was an insurance document that placed Brueckner at a festival in Orgiva, Spain, in April 2008 — nearly a year after Madeleine went missing.
According to witness Helge B, Brueckner allegedly made a chilling confession at the festival, saying that Madeleine “didn’t scream.”
The statement has faced credibility questions, but the insurance document proves Brueckner was indeed present at the event, lending weight to the timeline.
Christian Brueckner’s criminal record adds more fuel to the fire.
In 2016, he was convicted of abusing a five-year-old girl after investigators found disturbing images on his computer. He received a 15-month sentence but had already fled at the time.
In 2017, Helge B. tipped off police after watching a documentary about Madeleine’s case.
In 2019, Brueckner was convicted of raping a U.S. woman in Praia da Luz, the same resort town where Madeleine vanished.
In 2020, German officials named him the prime suspect and publicly stated they believe Madeleine is dead.
Despite the mountain of evidence, Brueckner has never been formally charged in connection with her disappearance, and he continues to deny all allegations.