Maddie cops using radars to 'scour' trenches in new search after 'tip-off'
May 3, 2007: Kate and Gerry McCann leave their children asleep in their holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, Portugal, while they dine with friends. They check on their children three times throughout the night, and, at 10pm, they find her missing
May 14, 2007: Police take property developer Robert Murat in for questioning and make him a formal suspect – this is later withdrawn.
August 11, 2007: 100 days after her disappearance, detectives acknowledge that she could be dead.
September 7, 2007: Maddie's parents become formal suspects in their daughter's disappearance.
September 9, 2007: The McCanns return to England with their two-year-old twins.
July 21, 2008: Portuguese authorities shelve the investigation and remove the McCanns and Murat as suspects.
May 12, 2011: Kate McCann publishes a book about her daughter's disappearance on her eighth birthday
April 25, 2012: Scotland Yard detectives say they believe Madeleine could still be alive and release a picture of how she may look as a nine-year-old. They ask Portuguese police to reopen the case, but they say they have found no new information.
July 4, 2013: Scotland Yard confirms it has launched its own investigation and says it has identified 38 people of interest, including 12 Britons.
October 24, 2013: Portuguese police decide to reopen the case
June 3, 2020: Police reveal that a 43-year-old German prisoner, later named as Christian Brueckner, has been identified as a suspect in Madeleine's disappearance.
January 29, 2014: British detectives fly out to Portugal
June 3, 2024: Sniffer dogs and specialist teams are used to search an area of scrubland close to where Madeleine went missing.
December 12, 2024: Detectives begin questioning 11 people who it is thought may have information on the case.
September 16, 2014: The Government states that the investigation into Madeleine's disappearance has so far cost £10 million
October 28, 2014: Scotland Yard cuts the number of officers working on the inquiry from 29 to four.
April 30, 2017: The McCanns mark 10 years since her disappearance with a BBC interview.
May 3, 2019: Local media reports say Portuguese detectives are investigating a foreign paedophile as a suspect in the abduction of Madeleine.
June 3, 2020: Police reveal that a 43-year-old German prisoner, later named as Christian Brueckner, has been identified as a suspect in Madeleine's disappearance.
April 21, 2022: Christian Brueckner is made a formal suspect by Portuguese authorities.
October 11, 2022: Brueckner is charged with three counts of rape and two charges of child sex abuse, unrelated to Madeleine's disappearance.
May 3, 2023: Kate and Gerry McCann mark the 16th anniversary of Madeleine's disappearance by saying she is 'still very much missed' and that they 'await a breakthrough'.
May 22, 2023: An area near the Barragem do Arade reservoir, about 30 miles from Praia da Luz, is sealed off as police prepare to start searching on May 23.
May 23, 2023: Searches begin with police divers in the water and officers with sniffer dogs and rakes seen on the banks.
June 23, 2023: A man named Helge B claimed to the German newspaper Bild that Brueckner almost confessed to killing Maddie, allegedly telling him 'she didn't scream' when the pair talked about the case at a music festival
July 11, 2023: The German prosecutor involved with the case warns not to 'expect too much' from the search.
February 16, 2024: Brueckner's trial starts over three counts of alleged rape and sexual abuse of two children not connected to the Madeleine investigation
October 8, 2024: He is acquitted of all the allegations due to 'insufficient' evidence. An appeal over the acquittal is launched, which is still ongoing
March 27, 2025: A 60-year-old woman is charged with stalking the McCann family
May 3, 2025: Maddie's parents Kate and Gerry McCann mark the 18th anniversary of her disappearance with a heartbreaking message
September 17, 2025: This is the date Brueckner could be released from prison if no further charges are brought
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Wales Online
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Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Britain's National Crime Agency has sounded the alarm, with an insistent reminder that "ignorance is not a defence". 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With evidence such as messages on his mobile suggesting links to contacts in Brazil and the States, authorities suspect that Eastment didn't act alone. He now awaits potential charges in pre-trial detention, a span which could last 120 days as Chilean prosecutors prepare their case. Should he be found guilty, he might be facing upwards of 15 years behind bars; however, cooperation with the investigation could lead to a reduced term. Unidentified couple - Spain. On May 5, a British duo, a man and woman aged 33 and 34 respectively, were apprehended at Valencia Airport after more than 33 kilograms of cannabis was discovered concealed in their luggage. The pair had arrived from France and initially informed customs officials that they had nothing to declare, purporting to be holidaymakers returning from Thailand. Spanish authorities highlighted that the couple were selected for inspection due to their anxious behaviour and elusive answers. Upon examination of their suitcases, airport staff observed a lack of personal belongings, instead uncovering vacuum-sealed packages filled with a plant-based substance, later identified as cannabis. The following day, both individuals were presented before a judge and remain detained while the inquiry is ongoing. It remains uncertain when or if formal charges will be brought by Spanish prosecutors, and a trial may not commence for several months. Jon Collyer, Lisa Stocker and Phineas Float - Indonesia. The court case involving three Brits apprehended in Bali earlier this year on charges of drug smuggling is currently in progress. Jon Collyer, 38, and Lisa Stocker, 39, were detained at Bali's Ngurah Rai International Airport in February when customs officers reportedly discovered 994 grams of cocaine in their possession. The authorities claim the drugs were hidden within their luggage. It's alleged that Collyer and Stocker were found with 17 packages of cocaine, estimated to be worth around £300,000, concealed in Angel Delight packets. Phineas Float, 31, was arrested a few days later, suspected of being the intended recipient of the narcotics. Float's trial is separate but all are facing similar accusations under Indonesia's strict drug laws. If found guilty, they could each face lengthy prison sentences or even the death penalty, depending on the court's decision regarding intent and trafficking. Chyna Jada Brown-Frater and Christian Owusu Williams - Ghana. Two Britons have been apprehended at Accra's Kotoka International Airport in Ghana, suspected of attempting to smuggle substantial amounts of cannabis. Chyna Jada Brown-Frater, 23, was intercepted on May 18 before she could board a British Airways flight destined for London Gatwick. Security personnel allege that her luggage contained 32 blocks of compressed cannabis, weighing roughly 18 kilograms and estimated to be worth around £170,000. She was detained and later appeared in court where she was remanded pending further enquiries. In an unrelated incident, Christian Owusu Williams, a 19 year old UK national, was reportedly caught trying to fly to Dubai with 92 blocks of cannabis, tipping the scales at just under 54 kilograms. While authorities have not confirmed any direct link between the two arrests, Ghana's Narcotics Control Commission has issued a statement reiterating its dedication to fighting drug trafficking. Both suspects are currently being held as legal proceedings unfold. Cameron Bradford - Germany. Cameron Bradford, a 21 year old woman from Knebworth, Hertfordshire, has been arrested in Germany after allegedly being found with cannabis in her luggage at Munich Airport. The young Brit was travelling solo from Thailand and made a last-minute change to her travel plans, choosing to transit via Munich instead of landing at London Heathrow as initially planned. This sudden alteration raised suspicions among German authorities, leading to increased scrutiny. She was apprehended on April 21 while attempting to retrieve her luggage. It's reported that Bradford is currently in pre-trial detention as German police delve deeper into the case, investigating the source of the drugs and any potential connections to organised drug trafficking networks. She may remain in custody for several months before a decision on prosecution is reached. Thomas Parker - Bali. Thomas Parker, a British national hailing from Workington in Cumbria, was handed a 10-month prison sentence by a Denpasar court in Bali this May. He was found guilty of failing to report a drug-related crime. Indonesian authorities arrested Parker in January after discovering him with a parcel containing over one kilogram of MDMA, also known as ecstasy. Despite the prosecution pushing for a 12-month sentence, the judges decided on a lesser term, citing Parker's cooperation, admission of guilt, and expression of remorse. The time Parker has already spent in detention since his arrest will be deducted from his sentence. Indonesia is renowned for its stringent drug laws, making Parker's relatively mild sentence stand out against potential punishments that can range from extensive jail terms to even capital punishment for trafficking offences. Through his legal representative, Parker stated he accepted the court's verdict and would not be lodging an appeal. Charlotte Lee May - Sri Lanka. Former flight attendant Charlotte Lee May, a 21 year old from Coulsdon in south London, found herself in hot water after being arrested at Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo, Sri Lanka. In May, police allegedly discovered 46 kgs of synthetic cannabis, known locally as "Kush," in her luggage. Reportedly travelling solo, May was caught during a routine customs check. The street value of the drugs is estimated to be around £1.2 million. Sri Lankan law is notoriously strict on drug trafficking, with penalties reaching up to 25 years behind bars. May has refuted any knowledge of the drugs, insisting they must have been planted without her knowing. She remains detained while Sri Lankan prosecutors deliberate over the case and consider pressing charges. Bella May Culley - Georgia. Bella May Culley, an 18 year old from Billingham, Teesside, could face up to nine months in pre-trial detention in Georgia after being arrested in the capital, Tbilisi, on suspicion of drug trafficking. She stands accused of importing 12kg of marijuana and 2kg of hashish into the country. Prior to her arrest, Culley had been reported missing while thought to be on holiday in Thailand, sparking an international search. However, she was later located in Georgia, where she was taken into custody. During a recent pre-trial hearing, Culley revealed that she is pregnant. Prosecutors have asked for 55 days to collect evidence, with the investigation period potentially extended by another seven months. Her solicitor, Ia Todua, stated that investigators are trying to establish the origin of the drugs and whether Culley intended to pass them on. Kim Hall - USA. Kim Hall, a 28 year old British beautician from Middlesbrough, was arrested in August last year at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport while travelling from Mexico to the UK. US Customs and Border Protection officers allegedly discovered cocaine worth an estimated £4.6 million hidden in Hall's luggage. She reportedly informed authorities that she believed she was transporting two bags filled with cash and was unaware of their actual contents. She was detained and charged with federal drug trafficking offences. Her case is now in the hands of US prosecutors, and she is currently awaiting trial.
