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ITV News
5 days ago
- ITV News
What happened to Madeleine McCann? A timeline of events since her disappearance
More than 18 years after the disappearance of Madeleine McCann while on a family holiday in Portugal in 2007, police have begun new searches close to where she was last seen. Police are focusing on an area between Praia da Luz, and the house where Christian Brueckner lived - the case's main and only suspect. In June 2020 German authorities said they believed Christian Brueckner was the man 'responsible' for Madeleine's kidnap and murder. He remains under investigation, and is currently in prison serving a sentence for rape. He has not been charged and denies any involvement in Madeleine's disappearance. Despite numerous appeals, millions of pounds in public donations and the backing of high-profile celebrities, Madeleine has not been found. Here is a timeline of the main developments in the years since Madeleine vanished. 2007 – May 3: Kate and Gerry McCann, from Rothley, Leicestershire, leave their children asleep in their holiday apartment in Praia da Luz in southern Portugal while they dine with friends at a nearby tapas restaurant. Nothing is amiss when Mr McCann checks on the youngsters just after 9pm, but when his wife goes back at about 10pm she finds Madeleine missing. Jane Tanner, one of the friends dining with the McCanns, reports having seen a man carrying a child earlier that night. – May 14: Detectives take Anglo-Portuguese property developer Robert Murat in for questioning and make him an 'arguido', or formal suspect – but this is later withdrawn. – August 11: Exactly 100 days after Madeleine disappeared, investigating officers publicly acknowledge for the first time that she could be dead. – September 7: During questioning of Mr and Mrs McCann, detectives make them both 'arguidos' in their daughter's disappearance – but this is also later withdrawn. – September 9: The McCanns fly back to England with their two-year-old twins Sean and Amelie. 2008 – July 21: The Portuguese authorities shelve their investigation and lift the 'arguido' status of the McCanns and Robert Murat. 2011 – May 12: Mrs McCann publishes a book about her daughter's disappearance, on Madeleine's eighth birthday. Scotland Yard launches a review of the case after a request from home secretary Theresa May, supported by prime minister David Cameron. 2012 – April 25: Scotland Yard detectives say they believe Madeleine could still be alive, release an age-progression picture of how she might look as a nine-year-old, and call on the Portuguese authorities to reopen the case, but Portuguese police say they have found no new material. 2013 – July 4: Scotland Yard confirms it has launched its own investigation, Operation Grange, into Madeleine's disappearance two years into a review of the case. It has 'genuinely new' lines of inquiry and has identified 38 people of interest, including 12 Britons. – October 24: Portuguese police confirm that a review of their original investigation has uncovered new lines of inquiry, and they reopen the case. 2014 – January 29: British detectives fly to Portugal amid claims they are planning to make arrests. – June 3: Sniffer dogs and specialist teams are used to search an area of scrubland close to where Madeleine went missing. – December 12: Detectives begin questioning 11 people who it is thought may have information on the case. 2015 – September 16: The government discloses that the investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine has cost more than £10 million. – October 28: Scotland Yard cuts the number of officers working on the inquiry from 29 to four. 2017 – April 30: The McCanns prepare to mark 10 years since their daughter's disappearance with a BBC interview in which they vow to do 'whatever it takes for as long as it takes' to find her. 2019 – May 3: Local media reports say Portuguese detectives are investigating a foreign paedophile as a suspect in the abduction of Madeleine. Mary Nightingale on the resolve of Gerry and Kate McCann 2020 – June 3: Police reveal a German prisoner has been identified as a suspect in Madeleine's disappearance. – June 4: Scotland Yard's Operation Grange, which had received £12.3 million in funding up to April 2020, is still a missing person inquiry as detectives have no 'definitive evidence whether Madeleine is alive or dead'. 2021 – May 4: Kate and Gerry McCann post a statement on the Official Find Madeleine Campaign website saying they still cling to the hope of seeing their daughter again as they prepare to mark her 18th birthday on May 12. 2022 – April 21: Portuguese authorities declare a formal suspect. 2023 - May 22: German authorities request access to the Arade Dam, 50km from the place where Madeliene went missing. Teams from Portugal, Germany and the UK take part, with police divers spotted at the site. - October 30: Portuguese police apologise to Kate and Gerry McCann about their handling of the case and how the family was treated. 2024 - February 16: Christian Brueckner seen in public for the first time since being linked to the McCann case, on trial for five separate sex attacks in Portugal. - May 2: Home Office grants a further £192,000 towards the investigation - October 8: Brueckner is acquitted of the five charges. 2025 - April 22: Julia Wandel, a 23-year-old Polish woman, pleads not guilty to stalking Madeleine McCan's parents and siblings. - June 3: Renewed searches for Madeleine begin, focusing on a location between a house where Brueckner lived and where the toddler was last seen.
STV News
7 days ago
- General
- STV News
Madeleine McCann disappearance: A timeline of key dates and developments
Nearly two decades after the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, Portuguese police are conducting fresh searches a few miles from the resort where she was last seen. Police vehicles were seen around 3.5 miles from the resort on Tuesday, in the Atalaia area, where The Sun has reported search teams are expected to use radar equipment that can scan beneath the ground. The search is being carried out at the request of the German federal police as they look for evidence that could implicate prime suspect Christian Brueckner. He is in prison for raping a 72-year-old woman in Praia da Luz in 2005, but is due to be released from jail in September if no further charges are brought. Madeleine was abducted from a holiday apartment where she had been staying with her parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, and younger siblings, Amelie and Sean. Here is a breakdown of the main events after the three-year-old vanished. May 3: Kate and Gerry McCann, from Rothley, Leicestershire, leave their children asleep in their holiday apartment in Praia da Luz in southern Portugal while they dine with friends at a nearby tapas restaurant. Nothing is amiss when Mr McCann checks on the youngsters just after 9pm, but when his wife goes back at about 10pm she finds Madeleine missing. Jane Tanner, one of the friends dining with the McCanns, reports having seen a man carrying a child earlier that night. May 14: Detectives take Anglo-Portuguese property developer Robert Murat in for questioning and make him an 'arguido', or formal suspect – but this is later withdrawn. August 11: Exactly 100 days after Madeleine disappeared, investigating officers publicly acknowledge for the first time that she could be dead. September 7: During questioning of Mr and Mrs McCann, detectives make them both 'arguidos' in their daughter's disappearance – but this is also later withdrawn. September 9: The McCanns fly back to England with their two-year-old twins Sean and Amelie. July 21: The Portuguese authorities shelve their investigation and lift the 'arguido' status of the McCanns and Robert Murat. May 12: Mrs McCann publishes a book about her daughter's disappearance, on Madeleine's eighth birthday. Scotland Yard launches a review of the case after a request from home secretary Theresa May, supported by prime minister David Cameron. April 25: Scotland Yard detectives say they believe Madeleine could still be alive, release an age-progression picture of how she might look as a nine-year-old, and call on the Portuguese authorities to reopen the case, but Portuguese police say they have found no new material. July 4: Scotland Yard confirms it has launched its own investigation, Operation Grange, into Madeleine's disappearance two years into a review of the case. It has 'genuinely new' lines of inquiry and has identified 38 people of interest, including 12 Britons. October 24: Portuguese police confirm that a review of their original investigation has uncovered new lines of inquiry, and they reopen the case. January 29: British detectives fly to Portugal amid claims they are planning to make arrests. June 3: Sniffer dogs and specialist teams are used to search an area of scrubland close to where Madeleine went missing. December 12: Detectives begin questioning 11 people who it is thought may have information on the case. September 16: The Government discloses that the investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine has cost more than £10m. October 28: Scotland Yard cuts the number of officers working on the inquiry from 29 to four. April 30: The McCanns prepare to mark ten years since their daughter's disappearance with a BBC interview in which they vow to do 'whatever it takes for as long as it takes' to find her. May 3: Local media reports say Portuguese detectives are investigating a foreign paedophile as a suspect in the abduction of Madeleine. June 3: Police reveal that a 43-year-old German prisoner, later named as Christian Brueckner, has been identified as a suspect in Madeleine's disappearance. June 4: Scotland Yard's Operation Grange, which had received £12.3m in funding up to April 2020, is still a missing person inquiry as detectives have no 'definitive evidence whether Madeleine is alive or dead'. May 4: Kate and Gerry McCann post a statement on the Official Find Madeleine Campaign website saying they still cling to the hope of seeing their daughter again as they prepare to mark her 18th birthday on May 12. April 21: Christian Brueckner, now 44, is made an 'arguido', a formal suspect, by Portuguese authorities. May 22: German investigators and Portuguese officers last carried out searches near the Barragem do Arade reservoir, about 30 miles from Praia da Luz. June 1: After searches end, German prosecutor Hans Christian Wolters says a 'number of items were seized as part of the investigation', but that it cannot be said whether they 'have a connection to the Madeleine McCann case'. October 8: Brueckner was cleared by a German court of unrelated sexual offences alleged to have taken place in Portugal between 2000 and 2017. February 20: A Polish woman claiming to be Madeleine is arrested at Bristol Airport. Julia Wandelt is charged with stalking Gerry and Kate McCann, as well as their two children. April 17: Ministers approve more than £100,000 in additional funding for Scotland Yard detectives investigating Madeleine's disappearance. May 3: Madeleine's family has marked the 18th anniversary of her disappearance by remembering her as a 'very beautiful and unique person' ahead of what would have been her 22nd birthday. June 3: Fresh searches under way at ruins over three miles from the resort Madeleine was last seen at the request of the German federal police. Investigators to examine 21 pieces of land where trenches were dug near the resort at the time of her disappearance, at wells and water tanks. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Metro
08-05-2025
- Metro
German police begs UK police for help before Madeleine McCann suspect walks free
2007 – May 3: Kate and Gerry McCann, from Rothley, Leicestershire, leave their children asleep in their holiday apartment in Praia da Luz in southern Portugal while they dine with friends at a nearby tapas restaurant. Nothing is amiss when Mr McCann checks on the youngsters just after 9pm, but when his wife goes back at about 10pm she finds Madeleine missing. Jane Tanner, one of the friends dining with the McCanns, reports having seen a man carrying a child earlier that night. – May 14: Detectives take Anglo-Portuguese property developer Robert Murat in for questioning and make him an 'arguido', or formal suspect, but this is later withdrawn. – August 11: Exactly 100 days after Madeleine disappeared, investigating officers publicly acknowledge for the first time that she could be dead. – September 7: During questioning of Mr and Mrs McCann, detectives make them both 'arguidos' in their daughter's disappearance. – September 9: The McCanns fly back to England with their two-year-old twins Sean and Amelie. 2008 – July 21: The Portuguese authorities shelve their investigation and lift the 'arguido' status of the McCanns and Mr Murat. 2011 – May 12: Mrs McCann publishes a book about her daughter's disappearance, on Madeleine's eighth birthday. Scotland Yard launches a review of the case after a request from home secretary Theresa May, supported by prime minister David Cameron. 2012 – April 25: Scotland Yard detectives say they believe Madeleine could still be alive, release an age-progression picture of how she might look as a nine-year-old, and call on the Portuguese authorities to reopen the case, but Portuguese police say they have found no new material. 2013 – July 4: Scotland Yard confirms it has launched its own investigation, Operation Grange, into Madeleine's disappearance two years into a review of the case. It has 'genuinely new' lines of inquiry and has identified 38 people of interest, including 12 Britons. – October 24: Portuguese police confirm that a review of their original investigation has uncovered new lines of inquiry, and they reopen the case. 2014 – January 29: British detectives fly to Portugal amid claims they are planning to make arrests. – June 3: Sniffer dogs and specialist teams are used to search an area of scrubland close to where Madeleine went missing. – December 12: Detectives begin questioning 11 people who it is thought may have information on the case. 2015 – September 16: The Government discloses that the investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine has cost more than £10 million. – October 28: Scotland Yard cuts the number of officers working on the inquiry from 29 to four. 2017 – April 30: The McCanns prepare to mark 10 years since their daughter's disappearance with a BBC interview in which they vow to do 'whatever it takes for as long as it takes' to find her. 2019 – May 3: Local media reports say Portuguese detectives are investigating a foreign paedophile as a suspect in the abduction of Madeleine. 2020 – June 3: Police reveal a 43-year-old German prisoner, later named as Christian Brueckner, has been identified as a suspect in Madeleine's disappearance. – June 4: Scotland Yard's Operation Grange, which had received £12.3 million in funding up to April 2020, is still a missing person inquiry as detectives have no 'definitive evidence whether Madeleine is alive or dead'. 2021 – May 4: Kate and Gerry McCann post a statement on the official Find Madeleine campaign website saying they still cling to the hope of seeing their daughter again as they prepare to mark her 18th birthday on May 12. 2022 – April 21: Brueckner is made an 'arguido', a formal suspect, by Portuguese authorities. – May 3: The McCann family say it is 'essential' they learn the truth of what happened to their daughter on the 15th anniversary of her disappearance. – October 11: Brueckner, now 45, is charged with three counts of rape and two charges of child sex abuse, unrelated to Madeleine's disappearance. 2023 – May 3: 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: An area near the Barragem do Arade reservoir, about 30 miles from Praia da Luz, is sealed off as police prepare to start searching. – May 23: Searches begin with police divers in the water, and teams including officers with sniffer dogs and rakes and metal poles are seen working on the banks. Media and onlookers are kept a mile away from the main search area and a no-fly zone is imposed over the water. 2024 – February 16: Brueckner goes on trial for three counts of rape and two charges of child sex abuse at a court in Brunswick, Germany. – October 8: Brueckner is acquitted of all charges.
Metro
07-05-2025
- Metro
Six new pieces of evidence found hidden inside Madeleine McCann suspect's lair
2007 – May 3: Kate and Gerry McCann, from Rothley, Leicestershire, leave their children asleep in their holiday apartment in Praia da Luz in southern Portugal while they dine with friends at a nearby tapas restaurant. Nothing is amiss when Mr McCann checks on the youngsters just after 9pm, but when his wife goes back at about 10pm she finds Madeleine missing. Jane Tanner, one of the friends dining with the McCanns, reports having seen a man carrying a child earlier that night. – May 14: Detectives take Anglo-Portuguese property developer Robert Murat in for questioning and make him an 'arguido', or formal suspect, but this is later withdrawn. – August 11: Exactly 100 days after Madeleine disappeared, investigating officers publicly acknowledge for the first time that she could be dead. – September 7: During questioning of Mr and Mrs McCann, detectives make them both 'arguidos' in their daughter's disappearance. – September 9: The McCanns fly back to England with their two-year-old twins Sean and Amelie. 2008 – July 21: The Portuguese authorities shelve their investigation and lift the 'arguido' status of the McCanns and Mr Murat. 2011 – May 12: Mrs McCann publishes a book about her daughter's disappearance, on Madeleine's eighth birthday. Scotland Yard launches a review of the case after a request from home secretary Theresa May, supported by prime minister David Cameron. 2012 – April 25: Scotland Yard detectives say they believe Madeleine could still be alive, release an age-progression picture of how she might look as a nine-year-old, and call on the Portuguese authorities to reopen the case, but Portuguese police say they have found no new material. 2013 – July 4: Scotland Yard confirms it has launched its own investigation, Operation Grange, into Madeleine's disappearance two years into a review of the case. It has 'genuinely new' lines of inquiry and has identified 38 people of interest, including 12 Britons. – October 24: Portuguese police confirm that a review of their original investigation has uncovered new lines of inquiry, and they reopen the case. 2014 – January 29: British detectives fly to Portugal amid claims they are planning to make arrests. – June 3: Sniffer dogs and specialist teams are used to search an area of scrubland close to where Madeleine went missing. – December 12: Detectives begin questioning 11 people who it is thought may have information on the case. 2015 – September 16: The Government discloses that the investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine has cost more than £10 million. – October 28: Scotland Yard cuts the number of officers working on the inquiry from 29 to four. 2017 – April 30: The McCanns prepare to mark 10 years since their daughter's disappearance with a BBC interview in which they vow to do 'whatever it takes for as long as it takes' to find her. 2019 – May 3: Local media reports say Portuguese detectives are investigating a foreign paedophile as a suspect in the abduction of Madeleine. 2020 – June 3: Police reveal a 43-year-old German prisoner, later named as Christian Brueckner, has been identified as a suspect in Madeleine's disappearance. – June 4: Scotland Yard's Operation Grange, which had received £12.3 million in funding up to April 2020, is still a missing person inquiry as detectives have no 'definitive evidence whether Madeleine is alive or dead'. 2021 – May 4: Kate and Gerry McCann post a statement on the official Find Madeleine campaign website saying they still cling to the hope of seeing their daughter again as they prepare to mark her 18th birthday on May 12. 2022 – April 21: Brueckner is made an 'arguido', a formal suspect, by Portuguese authorities. – May 3: The McCann family say it is 'essential' they learn the truth of what happened to their daughter on the 15th anniversary of her disappearance. – October 11: Brueckner, now 45, is charged with three counts of rape and two charges of child sex abuse, unrelated to Madeleine's disappearance. 2023 – May 3: 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: An area near the Barragem do Arade reservoir, about 30 miles from Praia da Luz, is sealed off as police prepare to start searching. – May 23: Searches begin with police divers in the water, and teams including officers with sniffer dogs and rakes and metal poles are seen working on the banks. Media and onlookers are kept a mile away from the main search area and a no-fly zone is imposed over the water. 2024 – February 16: Brueckner goes on trial for three counts of rape and two charges of child sex abuse at a court in Brunswick, Germany. – October 8: Brueckner is acquitted of all charges.
