Madeleine McCann’s disappearance on May 3, 2007, continues to captivate the world’s attention. The latest development in the case involves Christian Brueckner, the prime suspect, whose rape trial has been extended by three months. Let’s take a look at the timeline of events related to this perplexing case.
A Mysterious Disappearance
On that fateful evening of May 3, 2007, Kate McCann discovered that her daughter Madeleine was missing at 10 pm. Since then, the case has remained unsolved, leaving investigators and the general public searching for answers.
Key Dates in the Case
Here are some important dates that have shaped the investigation:
- May 14, 2007: Property developer Robert Murat becomes a formal suspect.
- August 31, 2007: The McCanns take legal action against a newspaper that accused them of killing Madeleine.
- September 7, 2007: Kate and Gerry McCann are named formal suspects.
- September 9, 2007: Madeleine’s parents return to England with their two-year-old twins.
- October 2, 2007: Lead detective Goncalo Amaral is removed from the case following criticism of the British police.
- July 21, 2009: Both Robert Murat and the McCanns are cleared of suspicion by Portuguese police.
- May 12, 2011: Scotland Yard launches a review of the case on Madeleine’s eighth birthday.
- April 25, 2012: Scotland Yard announces their belief that Madeleine McCann is still alive.
- July 4, 2013: Scotland Yard starts their own investigation into Madeleine’s disappearance.
- October 24, 2013: Portuguese police reopen the case based on new lines of inquiry.
- November 27, 2013: British and Portuguese police are urged to collaborate.
- October 28, 2015: Scotland Yard reduces the number of officers assigned to the case.
- March 11, 2017: Operation Grange is granted additional funding to continue the investigation.
- September 28, 2017: British police receive further funding until March 2018.
- November 2017: The search for Madeleine expands to Bulgaria.
- May 2018: Another round of funding, believed to be around £150,000, is granted.
- September 2018: The Home Office is requested to extend funding for an additional six months.
- November 2018: More funding, estimated at £150,000, is approved.
- November 2018: UK police re-examine a theory suggesting Madeleine left the apartment in search of her parents.
- June 2019: The government grants approximately £300,000 in funding for the investigation.
- June 2019: Portuguese police pursue a “new clue and suspect” following discussions with British officers.
- June 2020: The investigation takes a significant turn as German pedophile Christian Brueckner becomes the prime suspect.
- April 2022: Brueckner is officially named a formal suspect.
- May 2023: Police search a remote Algarve reservoir known as Brueckner’s “little paradise.”
As the trial of Christian Brueckner unfolds in the coming months, the hope for answers in Madeleine McCann’s disappearance remains strong. The world continues to follow this compelling and emotional case, eagerly awaiting resolution.
Source: F5 Magazine