THE BUNGLE THAT SET HIM FREE

CHRISTIAN BRUECKNER HAS BEEN LET OUT OF A GERMAN PRISON EARLIER THAN EXPECTED

- Kylie Walters

German authorities warned their British counterparts in October 2024 that the “clock was ticking” as the days counted down until they'd be forced to let go of the main suspect in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann. But after a shocking act from within their own ranks, Christian Brueckner was released months earlier than expected.

Brueckner was convicted of raping a 72-year-old American woman in Portugal in 2005. Following the end of his sentence for that attack in September, he was expected to be held in custody until late January over an unpaid fine relating to drunkenness in traffic and forgery of documents.

Instead, a former law enforcement officer who helped wiretap the prison cell of the convicted rapist and paedophile - cleared his debt. Known only as Rebecca K, the woman worked for the equivalent of the German FBI and paid around $2600 to the courts, which allowed Brueckner to walk free on September 17. The shock development cost investigators a precious three months in their quest to uncover what happened on the night 3-year-old Maddie was taken.