The main suspect in Madeleine McCann’s disappearance is offering up his alibi, 15 years to the day after the crime took place.
Christian Brueckner, the 44-year-old German suspect, is currently in jail for drug offenses and for raping an elderly person in Praia da Luz, Portugal. This is the same place 3-year-old Madeleine disappeared from on May 3, 2007. He was up for parole, and in fighting for his freedom he offered an explanation as to why he couldn't have been behind the toddler's disappearance.
According to Brueckner, he drove a female friend to a Portugal airport an hour away in a camper van they had been having sex in at the time the crime occurred.
Christian says that the woman is easy to locate because she was arrested by airport security for carrying illegal pepper spray when she tried to get to her flight back to Germany. He believes police records of this will help establish contact with the young woman, who was traveling with her family, and establish his innocence.
If proven true, this would contradict evidence recovered from his cellphone that put him close to the apartment where Madeleine vanished from at the time of the crime. Brueckner has not yet formally presented this alibi.
"I assume if he has anything that exonerates him that sooner or later he will share it with us and we would then check it out. What happens then, let's see," Portuguese and British detectives told Sky News.
"So far he has told us nothing, he's given us no alibi. So, we can only work on the evidence we have found so far in our investigation. And there was nothing to exonerate him."
Brueckner remains behind bars at this time after being denied parole. He also remains the primary suspect in the investigation into Madeleine's disappearance.
Madeleine's parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, released a statement marking the 15th anniversary of Madeleine going missing during their family vacation.
"This year we mark fifteen years since we last saw Madeleine. It feels no harder than any other but no easier either. It's a very long time," they wrote.
"Many people talk about the need for 'closure.' It's always felt a strange term. Regardless of outcome, Madeleine will always be our daughter and a truly horrific crime has been committed. These things will remain. It is true though that uncertainty creates weakness; knowledge and certainty give strength, and for this reason our need for answers, for the truth, is essential."
"We are grateful for the ongoing work and commitment of the UK, Portuguese and German authorities as it is this combined police effort which will yield results and bring us those answers," they continued.
"As always, we would like to thank all of our supporters for their continued good wishes and support. It is a huge comfort to know that regardless of time passed, Madeleine is still in people’s hearts and minds. Thank you."
