Madeleine McCann: Prime suspect allegedly made alarming claims after 3-year-old went missing
Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers’ discretion advised.
PRAIA DA LUZ, PORTUGAL: The prime suspect, Christian Brueckner, in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, allegedly confessed to a friend about a chilling detail: that the 3-year-old toddler 'didn't scream' after she was taken from her parents' holiday home.
For context, Madeleine McCann disappeared at the age of three from her parents' holiday home in the coastal town of Praia da Luz, Portugal, on May 3, 2007.
This disappearance has become one of the world's most enduring cold cases. Notably, no one has ever been charged in connection with the toddler's disappearance as per Daily Mail.
Who is Christian Brueckner?
Christian Brueckner is the primary suspect in connection to the disappearance of the 3-year-old toddler. He is set to stand trial in Germany this week, for unrelated charges.
Referred to under German privacy laws as Christian B, he faces accusations of raping a 14-year-old girl and two other women, along with sexually assaulting additional children. Currently serving time in jail after being convicted of rape, Mr. Brueckner awaits trial for these new allegations.
What did the former friend of Christian Brueckner claim?
Integral to the upcoming trial concerning the disappearance case of the 3-year-old is Helge Busching, a convicted criminal and former acquaintance of Brueckner.
Busching revealed to journalist Jutta Rabe at a music festival that McCann "didn't scream," according to reports.
Busching, whose statements were aired on Sunday on '60 Minutes', recounted Brueckner's remarks during the program.
He mentioned, “He said 'she didn't scream, she didn't scream', that is what Brueckner said and then I looked at Mr Brueckner and thought 'what are you telling me now?”
Rabe further elaborated, stating, “And, then his reaction to that, that is, 'Huh? What did you just say? She didn't scream? How can you know?' ... In this moment, he realized, 'he knows it. He, he has been there. He took her out.”
Busching asserted that he had reported his suspicions twice to the police, first to Scotland Yard in 2008 and then again on the 10th anniversary of her disappearance, although there was no follow-up until 2020.
At that time, phone data obtained by German police placed Brueckner near the holiday house while he was alternating between Germany and Portugal, transforming the convicted rapist into the prime suspect.
According to '60 Minutes', Busching is expected to testify that he witnessed videos of Brueckner assaulting women.
Additionally, Rabe revealed to the program that she had been receiving regular letters from Brueckner in prison.
Hans Christian Wolters, the prosecutor in the McCann case, expressed confidence in Brueckner's status as the prime suspect and commended Busching as a 'believable' witness who provided evidence in another case against Brueckner.
He remarked, "The investigation is still ongoing. We have work to do and when we will come to an end, and if we think it's enough, then we will charge Christian B and if it's not enough then we have to close the case."
