Inside abandoned Madeleine McCann search farmhouse as police find 'evidence'
The baffling case of Madeleine McCann's disappearance has left police puzzled for nearly two decades, but now it seems they might be closing in on the truth.
Madeleine, a three year old from Leicester, vanished from her family's holiday flat in Praia da Luz, in Portugal's Algarve region, on May 3, 2007. Known for its stunning sandy beach and family-friendly atmosphere, the picturesque former fishing village has been overshadowed by Madeleine's mysterious disappearance.
German police have recently initiated new searches in the area, spurred by fresh information that reportedly surfaced during the trial of main suspect Christian Brueckner, 48. The search began on Tuesday, June 3, concentrating on the area between Praia da Luz and Brueckner's old cottage, situated on the outskirts of the village.
This investigation, the most significant since 2008, has included an abandoned farmhouse encircled by partially collapsed outbuildings, where officers have collected samples of potential evidence.
Police were seen removing heaps of soil from the scene, which was then transported away in plastic bags for further analysis. Firefighters were also observed draining an abandoned well, reports the Mirror.
Yesterday, detectives shifted their focus to a second abandoned farmhouse in the area, where plain-clothed officers were seen excavating and removing debris from the graffiti-covered structure, situated within 100 metres of a cliff edge. However, no new leads were reportedly uncovered during the search.
The search resumed today, with efforts appearing to have moved away from the disused farm buildings.
This morning, a JCB digger was seen clearing rubble from the remains of a derelict building located at the far eastern end of the 50-hectare site between Praia da Luz and Lagos. With a deadline looming, investigators have until Friday, June 6, to uncover any new evidence relating to Madeleine's case.
Convicted paedophile Brueckner, currently serving a seven-year prison sentence in Germany for the 2005 rape of an elderly woman at her Praia da Luz home, has denied any involvement in Madeleine's disappearance.
The radar equipment used in this latest search, capable of scanning beneath the ground, will focus on trenches reportedly dug around the time the child went missing.
According to an investigating source: "Following Brueckner's trial last year, someone contacted them with theories on where anyone who took Madeleine might've dumped her. They told cops about trenches that were dug in Praia at the time Madeleine disappeared, and the house where Brueckner had lived on the edge of the village.
"Of course, all of these places have been searched over and over again, but now they have a new weapon in their ground-scanning radar. It means they don't need to dig for the sake of it. But as soon as they spot anything of interest, they are ready to excavate and check it."
After this fresh twist, British expat Ruth Maclean, who was a neighbour to Brueckner in 2007, shared with The Times: "He was my neighbour, he was German, young, quite angry. I would hear him having arguments with his girlfriend."
She added: "He raped a lady in the town. I heard about that afterwards, just a ghastly piece of work. But I didn't know of him being a ghastly piece of work at the time."
Weighing in on the intensified search efforts, Ruth remarked: "We are all so exhausted. It just goes on and on. It beggars belief.
"I know the properties [being searched] because I ride up there all the time with my horses. There may have been one or two wells in the old days... The fact they are going to dredge them seems absolutely ludicrous, but who knows."
For nearly two decades, Madeleine's parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, have remained unyieldingly driven in their pursuit to find their daughter, never abandoning hope of reuniting with her.
To this day, the bill for the Metropolitan Police's investigation into Madeleine's disappearance, known as Operation Grange, has surpassed €15.4 million.
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The Irish Sun
2 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Read Madeleine McCann prime suspect Christian Brueckner's sick letter in full – including chilling ‘no body' gloat
A LETTER written by prime Madeleine McCann suspect Christian Brueckner has been exposed, with the sex fiend goading cops by saying: 'Is there a body? No, no no.' The German paedophile bragged in the bombshell letter that cops Advertisement 12 Christian Brueckner letter in which he brags about police never being able to pin the case on him 12 Madeleine McCann prime suspect Christian Brueckner arrives in court in Braunschweig, Germany last year Credit: Dan Charity 12 Madeleine McCann who has been missing since 2007 Credit: Alamy He wrote: 'It is the important questions, the decisive questions that can never be answered. 'Was I or my vehicle clearly seen near the crime scene on the night of the crime? 'Is there DNA evidence of me at the crime scene? Are there DNA traces of the injured party in my vehicle? 'Are there other traces/DNA carriers of the injured party in my possession? Photos?" Advertisement read more on madeleine Brueckner - He wrote: 'You know, of course, that in Germany you don't have to prove your innocence as a suspect, but that the public prosecutor's office has to prove that you are clearly guilty. 'Even the slightest doubt leads to an acquittal, if there is a court hearing at all.' Brueckner even claims the case against him is built on 'purchased witnesses' and reveals his awareness of his global notoriety. Advertisement Most read in The Sun Breaking He wrote: 'Now, my path is paved with misjudgements, so to speak, but from now on the whole world is watching. 'Not even the Braunschweig regional court will now dare to make an obvious misjudgement. 'Even if an attempt is currently being made to create a shocking overall picture of me through purchased witnesses, it is the important questions, the decisive questions that can never be answered with 'yes'. Madeleine McCann cops call off search as trawl of Brueckner's 'rat run' turns up nothing "And, not to forget, is there a body/corpse? All no, no no.' Advertisement He adds: 'You don't have to be a realist like me to predict that the accusations made against me will not hold up and that the investigation will be dropped.' In another letter seen by The Sun, Brueckner described how he used his He wrote: 'Do you know that I was a drug dealer at that time in 2007? Investigators know this. 'I bought marijuana in Spain and sold it on beaches in the Algarve. Advertisement 'I was never caught by the police because I followed a few principles. 'If possible, only drive during the day so that my battered hippie bus doesn't attract so much attention, only drive the necessary and most importantly, never provoke the police.' He added: 'Together with my dog and a lover at the time I enjoyed the 'temporary hippie life'.' 12 The vile letter emerged as officers desperate to find a forensic link to him flew back to Germany after a new three-day search in Portugal Advertisement 12 German prosecutors are convinced of the predator's guilt 12 Police searching various sites in and around the resort of Praia da Luz Credit: Dan Charity 12 A criminal police investigator inspects an abandoned home in the fresh Madeleine search Credit: Reuters He also whinges he has been framed so he can be scapegoated over the Madeleine case. Advertisement He wrote: 'Right from the start they plotted a miscarriage of justice to make me vanish into thin air. And now half the world knows why.' And he adds: 'I am not exaggerating when I say that 80 per cent of what I have heard from the reports is not true. 'A large proportion of these lies are clearly being spread by the investigating authorities. My words are directed at those who are taking this seriously and are not laughing about it. 'Those who want to understand how brutal the German justice system is in its attempts to hammer through its own law, even if nothing is true.' Advertisement The vile letters emerged as officers Scores of cops painstakingly near Praia da Luz with JCBs, radar and fingertip searches, believing the tot or her pyjamas could have been buried there. German prosecutors are convinced of Brueckner's guilt. It comes just weeks after a Advertisement The disturbing evidence demonstrated Brueckner's obsession with young kids. We revealed he wrote horrifying fantasies about abducting and abusing a blonde toddler — and how this would leave him 'in paradise'. He also boasted in online forums about his desire to 'capture something small and use it for days'. Brueckner remains in prison in Germany where he is serving a seven year term for rape. Advertisement The 48-year-old convicted paedophile faces having his hopes of being released from jail in September scuppered after reportedly being accused of new offences against prison guards behind bars. 12 A recent image of the barn 12 The barn in 2007 appearing to have a tent set up The latest search to find DNA or forensic links on the case appeared to have ended without success on Thursday. Advertisement Police were seen taking fibres by hand while a hole was dug at the site of an apparent tent from around the time of Madeleine's disappearance. However, it was unclear whether the search had found anything with enough potential value to the case to be sent back to Germany for testing. Brueckner had already moved out of his cottage in Praia da Luz when three-year-old Madeleine, from Rothley, Leics, arrived with parents Gerry and Kate and her two-year-old twin siblings. He was living in his car, or wild camping in areas including this week's search site. Advertisement Brueckner's letters "It is the important questions, the decisive questions that can never be answered. 'Was I or my vehicle clearly seen near the crime scene on the night of the crime? 'Is there DNA evidence of me at the crime scene? Are there DNA traces of the injured party in my vehicle? 'Are there other traces/DNA carriers of the injured party in my possession? Photos? 'And, not to forget, is there a body/corpse? All no, no no. 'You don't have to be a realist like me to predict that the accusations made against me will not hold up and that the investigation will be dropped. "You know, of course, that in Germany you don't have to prove your innocence as a suspect, but that the public prosecutor's office has to prove that you are clearly guilty. 'Even the slightest doubt leads to an acquittal, if there is a court hearing at all.' 'Now, my path is paved with misjudgements, so to speak, but from now on the whole world is watching. 'Not even the Braunschweig regional court will now dare to make an obvious misjudgement. 'Even if an attempt is currently being made to create a shocking overall picture of me through purchased witnesses, it is the important questions, the decisive questions that can never be answered with 'yes'. 'Do you know that I was a drug dealer at that time in 2007? Investigators know this. 'I bought marijuana in Spain and sold it on beaches in the Algarve. 'I was never caught by the police because I followed a few principles. 'If possible, only drive during the day so that my battered hippie bus doesn't attract so much attention, only drive the necessary and most importantly, never provoke the police. 'Together with my dog and a lover at the time I enjoyed the 'temporary hippie life'. 'Right from the start they plotted a miscarriage of justice to make me vanish into thin air. And now half the world knows why. 'I am not exaggerating when I say that 80 per cent of what I have heard from the reports is not true. 'A large proportion of these lies are clearly being spread by the investigating authorities. My words are directed at those who are taking this seriously and are not laughing about it. 'Those who want to understand how brutal the German justice system is in its attempts to hammer through its own law, even if nothing is true.' The seeming failure of longshot searches for any traces of Madeleine this week is the latest in a string of blows for the case. German authorities who maintain Madeleine is dead are racing to find a way to keep highly dangerous Brueckner behind bars after he was cleared of rape claims last year. He told this week he plans to 'hide' when he is released, as soon as September 17, taking hopes for the Madeleine case with him. The drifter was jailed in 2019, convicted of the 2005 rape of an American pensioner just streets from the Ocean Club, where the McCanns stayed in Praia da Luz. Advertisement The Sun investigation aired on Channel 4 revealed the existence of computer hard drives which were vital in to persuading investigators of Madeleine's death. Our findings placed Breuckner at key Madeleine search location the Arades Dam, in Portugal. And a document puts him at the location — where he allegedly said 'she did not scream' as he discussed her with an associate. In the online message where he brags to another sicko that he really wanted to 'capture something small' he adds it would not matter 'if the evidence is destroyed afterwards'. Advertisement German investigators last night remained hopeful British police might rejoin the investigation as an active inquiry. 12 One of the derelict and abandoned properties close to Praia da Luz, Portugal Credit: PA 12 Police searching various sites in and around the resort Credit: Dan Charity 12 Search teams use a backhoe close to Praia da Luz Credit: PA Advertisement
The Irish Sun
3 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Madeleine McCann prime suspect Christian Brueckner gloats cops ‘will NEVER pin case on me without a body' in sick letter
MADELEINE McCann prime suspect Christian Brueckner has gloated that police will never pin the case on him without a body. In a sickening letter, investigation will hit the world like a bomb'. Advertisement 9 Prime suspect Christian Brueckner goaded cops in a sick letter bragging that they will not find a body Credit: Darren Fletcher 9 British toddler Madeleine McCann disappeared from Praia da Luz in Portugal back in 2007 Credit: AFP 9 Bruckner taunted cops in a letter to claim they cannot find evidence against him 9 Police officers packed up a tent as they ended day one of their search for evidence connected to Madeleine McCann's disappearance Credit: PA The police do not have the evidence to back their accusations against him in the investigation into the toddler's disappearance. And The vile letter emerged as officers desperate to find a forensic link to him flew back to Germany after a fresh, three-day search in Portugal. They had combed scrubland Advertisement READ MORE ON MADELEINE MCCANN German prosecutors are convinced of the Last month, a Sun investigation aired on Channel 4 revealed new bombshell evidence found at We revealed that he wrote horrifying fantasies about abducting and abusing a blonde toddler — and how this would leave him 'in paradise'. He also boasted in online forums about his desire to 'capture something small and use it for days'. Advertisement Most read in The Sun Breaking But, in the verified letter seen by The Sun, Brueckner insists there is no evidence against him. He wrote: 'It is the important questions, the decisive questions that can never be answered. Madeleine McCann cops call off search as trawl of Brueckner's 'rat run' turns up nothing 'Was I or my vehicle clearly seen near the crime scene on the night of the crime? "Is there DNA evidence of me at the crime scene? Are there DNA traces of the injured party in my vehicle? Advertisement 'Are there other traces/DNA carriers of the injured party in my possession? Photos? 'And, not to forget, is there a body/corpse? All no, no no.' He adds: 'You don't have to be a realist like me to predict that the accusations made against me will not hold up and that the investigation will be dropped.' Brueckner — named as a Advertisement He wrote: 'You know, of course, that in Germany you don't have to prove your innocence as a suspect, but that the public prosecutor's office has to prove that you are clearly guilty. 'Even the slightest doubt leads to an acquittal, if there is a court hearing at all.' 9 Portuguese police are searching various sites in and around the resort of Praia da Luz Credit: Dan Charity 9 The locations are around where Brueckner stayed in his car or in camping grounds Credit: Dan Charity Advertisement Brueckner even claims the case against him is built on 'purchased witnesses' and reveals his awareness of his global notoriety. He added: 'Now, my path is paved with misjudgements, so to speak, but from now on the whole world is watching. 'Not even the Braunschweig regional court will now dare to make an obvious misjudgement. 'Even if an attempt is currently being made to create a shocking overall picture of me through purchased witnesses, it is the important questions, the decisive questions that can never be answered with 'yes'.' Advertisement The Police were seen taking fibres by hand while a hole was dug at the site of an apparent tent from around the However, it was unclear whether the search had found anything was found with enough potential value to the case it merited being sent back to Germany for testing. Brueckner had already moved out of his cottage in Praia da Luz when three-year-old Madeleine, from Rothley, Leics, arrived in the resort with Advertisement Those who want to understand how brutal the German justice system is in its attempts to hammer through its own law, even if nothing is true. Christian Brueckner He was living in his car, or In another letter seen by The Sun, Brueckner described how he used his He wrote: 'Do you know that I was a drug dealer at that time in 2007? Investigators know this. 'I bought marijuana in Spain and sold it on beaches in the Algarve. Advertisement 'I was never caught by the police because I followed a few principles. 'If possible, only drive during the day so that my battered hippie bus doesn't attract so much attention, only drive the necessary and most importantly, never provoke the police.' 9 Brueckner has been named as a Madeleine suspect for five years 9 Forensic cops comb scrubland close to where Madeleine vanished aged three from a holiday Credit: Dan Charity Advertisement He added: 'Together with my dog and a lover at the time I enjoyed the 'temporary hippie life'.' The seeming failure of long-shot searches this week to find any traces of Madeleine is the latest in a string of blows for the case. German authorities, who He told this week he Advertisement The pervert was jailed in 2019 for the 2005 rape of an American pensioner just streets from the Ocean Club, where the McCanns stayed in Praia da Luz. In his letters, he whinges he has been framed so he can be scapegoated over the Madeleine case. Key dates in Madeleine McCann's disappearance MADELEINE McCann vanished on May 3, 2007 - and cops believe Brueckner could have been behind her disappearance. Almost 17 years on, no one has been charged in connection. These are the key dates: May 3, 2007 - Kate McCann finds Madeleine missing at 10pm May 14, 2007 - Property developer Robert Murat is named an "arguido" or formal suspect August 31, 2007 - The McCanns launch libel action against Tal e Qual - a newspaper that claimed the couple killed Madeleine September 7, 2007 - Kate and Gerry McCann are made "arguidos" September 9, 2007 - Madeleine's parents return to England with their two-year-old twins October 2, 2007 - Lead detective Goncalo Amaral is taken off the case after criticising British police in a newspaper interview July 21, 2009 - Portuguese police lift the "arguido" status of both Robert Murat and the McCanns May 12, 2011 - On Madeleine's eighth birthday, Scotland Yard launches a review into the case April 25, 2012 - Scotland Yard officers say they believe Madeleine McCann is still alive July 4, 2013 - Two years into a review of the case, Scotland Yard launched its own investigation into Madeleine's disappearance October 24, 2013 - Portuguese police reopen their case after new lines of inquiry are found November 27, 2013 - Met Police Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe called for British and Portuguese police to work together October 28, 2015 - Scotland Yard reduces the number of officers working on Madeleine's disappearance March 11, 2017 - September 28, 2017 - November 2017 - May 2018 - Another round of funding, thought to be in the region of £150,000 is granted September 2018 - An November 2018 - More funding, thought to be in November 2018 - UK police June 2019 - Another round of funding, June 2019 - Portuguese police are June 2020 - New prime suspect April 2022 - Brueckner formally made an "arguido" May 2023 - Police Brueckner wrote: 'Right from the start they plotted a miscarriage of justice to make me vanish into thin air. And now half the world knows why.' And he adds: 'I am not exaggerating when I say that 80 per cent of what I have heard from the reports is not true. Advertisement 'A large proportion of these lies are clearly being spread by the investigating authorities. "My words are directed at those who are taking this seriously and are not laughing about it. 'Those who want to understand how brutal the German justice system is in its attempts to hammer through its own law , even if nothing is true.' The Sun investigation aired on Channel 4 revealed the existence of computer hard drives which were vital in to persuading investigators of Madeleine's death. Advertisement Our findings placed Brueckner at key Madeleine search point — the And a document puts him at the location where he allegedly said 'she did not scream' as he discussed her with an associate. In the online message where he German investigators last night remained Advertisement 9 The long-shot searches attempting to find any trace of Madeleine did not bring results Credit: Dan Charity
Sunday World
5 hours ago
- Sunday World
Irish woman who accused Madeleine McCann suspect of rape says he could've been stopped
Hazel Behan accused Christian Brueckner of raping her at her home in Portugal three years before the tot vanished An Irish woman who accused Madeleine McCann's suspected killer of rape has says he could of been stopped. Hazel Behan accused Christian Brueckner of raping her at her home in Portugal in 2004. He went on trial in 2020, accused of raping the Dublin woman and a number of other women, but was aquitted. She has now said he could have been stopped from attacking other women, and potentially kidnapping and murdering the British tot in 2007. 'I feel that those who were in a position and mandated a position to protect and serve and do their job didn't,' Behan told The State of Us Podcast hosts Tara Mills and Declan Harvey. Hazel Behan at home in Mullingar. Photo: Steve Humphreys 'It also places a huge amount of guilt in me because even though I know I couldn't have done anything more… it doesn't stop the guilt that I have. 'If I had shouted louder, that if I had made more of a fuss at the time, all of these things may not have happened to other people,' she confessed. 'I carry that because of them not doing their job, and that really, really upsets me. 'Like to a point that I feel that they need to be called out for that. 'I don't think all these years later I should be doing all, having to go through all this again because of the ineptitude of a police force.' 'There's people like me and other victims who believe they're victims of Christian Bruckner who have suffered as a result.' It comes as German police began fresh searches in Praia da Luz, Portugal, in connection with the disappearance of 3-year-old Madeline McCann. Search teams investigating Madeleine McCann's disappearance use a digger next to a derelict property close to Praia De Luz, Portugal. Photo: PA The search was reportedly prompted by the discovery of disturbing new evidence found on a hard drive hidden in Brueckner's 'secret lair'. Cops discovered a hard drive containing pictures at a disused factory in Neuwegersleben, Germany, which was purchased by Bruckner in 2008, just one year after the toddler vanished. Details of the find were reported by The Sun and Channel 4. The files were uncovered in 2016 when a dog ran onto the property and appeared to find a grave. When authorities dug, they discovered a deceased dog lying on top of a wallet containing six USB sticks and two memory cards, which reportedly contained disturbing materials. Following this, 100 cops launched a full-scale search, finding children's clothes and toys, as well as masks, chemicals and three black market guns. The sinister items also included stories allegedly written by the German national, one of which detailed the abuse of a four-year-old blonde girl. Missing Madeleine McCann and suspect Christian Brueckner News in 90 Seconds - 6th June 2025 Child abuse images, records of Skype conversations with paedophiles and 75 children's swimming costumes were also found, as well as a metal case of photographs depicting girls believed to be aged four and five. In 2020, Brueckner went on trial accused of five separate counts of rape and sexual assault which prosecutors allege he committed in Portugal between 2000 and 2017. One of these charges related to the alleged rape of Westmeath woman Hazel Behan after he broke into her apartment via the balcony while she was sleeping. A court heard that she was raped by him in June 2004 while working as a holiday rep in Portugal. He was acquitted of all charges, but the Irish woman has now lodged an application to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) alleging inaction by Portuguese police in identifying and prosecuting Brueckner for her rape. Cops trying to find evidence of Brueckner's involvement in McCann's disappearance are in a race against time as he is expected to be released from prison in later this year. The German is serving time behind bars for the rape of an American woman in Praia da Luz in 2005. Madeline McCann vanished from her family's holiday rental in Praia da Luz two years later in May 2007. Madeleine McCann has been missing since 2007 The tot slept in a bedroom with her two younger twin siblings as their parents dined at a nearby restaurant with their friends. When Madeline's mother, Kate, checked on her children at around 10 pm, Maddie was not there, and the alarm was raised. The case of the missing girl captivated the world, and continues to do so as no trace of the 3-year-old has ever been found, despite an international manhunt to find her. No one has ever been charged in connection with her disappearance. If you've been effected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can contact the Rape Crisis Centre on 1800 77 8888.
