An explosive report is exposing the sickening evidence discovered in the lair of the suspected Madeleine McCann suspect, Christian Brueckner. According to the U.K. Sun, German investigators recovered a treasure trove of children’s clothes and toys and a plethora of twisted child abuse porn. The evidence was discovered in an abandoned factory owned by the suspect. Three-year-old British tot Maddie vanished from her bed in her parents’ holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, Lagos, Portugal, on the evening of May 3, 2007.
After years of dead ends and wild goose chases, German police arrested Brueckner in June 2020. The convicted child molester remains behind bars and is considered the only suspect. Detectives told the U.K. Sun that the disturbing evidence clearly reveals the suspect’s obsession with young kids. In addition to the clothes and toys, police also recovered masks, chemicals, and guns. But the main prize was a hard drive filled with photos that investigators have continued to keep secret. Those contents have convinced German investigators that the little girl is dead.
The new evidence was discovered by accident at Brueckner’s hideout, which he purchased in 2008. At the site, cops found the suspect’s dead dog. Underneath the canine was a wallet that contained six USB sticks and memory cards. Investigators said the material on the sticks and cards was disturbing. Cops also recovered “stories” written by Brueckner that revealed his sick penchant for young children. One story describes drugging a mother and daughter outside a preschool before raping the little girl.
Cops also discovered horrific Skype conversations between the suspect and other pedophiles. He mused that he wished to “capture something small and use it for days.” Recovered child abuse images were also linked to the suspect. One case contained photos of hundreds of young girls around the age of Maddie. Also recovered were more than 75 children’s swimsuits, toys, and bicycles. Cops also discovered a bizarre nude selfie of Brueckner at a site 56 km from where Maddie disappeared.
Mere months after the search, Brueckner was convicted of child abuse. A former friend tipped off cops about the Maddie McCann link. Brueckner remains behind bars in Germany for the rape of an elderly American woman near where Maddie disappeared. The documentary, Maddie: The Unseen Evidence, aired Wednesday on the U.K.’s Channel 4.
In a related development, German investigators are urging British authorities to reopen their investigation into Madeleine McCann before the prime suspect, Christian Brueckner, walks free. They believe that help from the Met’s Operation Grange team could be crucial ahead of Brueckner’s release from jail later this year. Currently, the UK team staffs hotlines and monitors new tip-offs on Madeleine’s disappearance. However, German investigators want them to play a bigger role to help secure a successful prosecution.
A source said: “There is huge interest in Germany in the British stepping up their investigation again. The clock is against the case here and investigators do not want to see Brueckner walk free.” Their best option could be intervention from UK cops, but they have to be prepared to take it on. There are 20,000 pages of Madeleine evidence, and the Germans are ready to translate the lot.
Convicted paedophile Brueckner is scheduled to be released on September 17, just 19 weeks away, from his current prison sentence for rape. Fears have been growing among prosecutors that an appeal which would keep Brueckner behind bars will not be granted in time. Their back-up plan has been to charge Brueckner over the disappearance of Madeleine, then three, from Portugal’s Praia da Luz in May 2007. However, they fear a lack of forensic evidence may be frowned on by the same courts that cleared him of child abuse and rape claims last year.
The latest development comes after a Sun investigation aired on Channel 4 on May 7, 2025, revealing new evidence found at Brueckner’s lair in Germany. A haul of disturbing material included child-abduction stories written by Brueckner, plus chilling Skype chats with other paedophiles. Kids’ swimming costumes and toys were also found, along with guns, ammo, and chemicals. There were also creepy photos of Brueckner, including nude, at the Arade Dam, a key search location for Madeleine.
Madeleine’s parents, Gerry and Kate, were made aware of the findings before publication. Operation Grange was granted £108,000 in public funding last month to keep it running for another year. It continues to treat Madeleine as a missing person. However, German investigators say they have “physical” proof she is dead. Last October, lead prosecutor Hans Christian Wolters stated they believe Brueckner kidnapped and murdered her. This position remains the same.
A source in Germany said: “As a starting point, the Brits would need to apply in writing for evidence. There is a legal procedure to follow.” The Met said Operation Grange was open to any evidence that can be provided. A spokesperson added: “We continue to support Madeleine’s family to understand what happened on the evening of 3 May 2007 in Praia da Luz. This includes working with our colleagues in Germany and Portugal. Our thoughts remain with the family.”
The timeline of events surrounding the case is harrowing. On May 3, 2007, Madeleine McCann disappears from her family’s holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, Portugal, sparking a massive police search and becoming one of the most famous missing persons cases in history. Over the years, numerous leads have emerged, but the investigation has faced numerous setbacks.
In January 2016, a neighbor reported a possible ‘grave’ at Brueckner’s abandoned factory in East Germany. Cops found disturbing images on USB sticks and launched a full-scale search. By February 2016, Brueckner was convicted for abusing a girl of five in a park after images found on his laptop. He was sentenced to 15 months behind bars but was already on the run by then.
As the years passed, various witnesses came forward, and in June 2020, German prosecutors revealed they had a suspect in custody under investigation for the abduction of Madeleine McCann. German media later named him as Christian B (Christian Brueckner). In subsequent years, Brueckner faced multiple legal challenges, and the investigation into Maddie’s disappearance continued to evolve.
With Brueckner's release date looming, the pressure is mounting on authorities to act swiftly. The world watches with bated breath as the quest for justice in the tragic case of Madeleine McCann continues.
