German prosecutors say they are “100 percent sure” convicted pedophile Christian Brueckner kidnapped and killed Madeleine McCann, but they admit they do not have proof the toddler is dead.
Madeleine, 3 years old at the time, was vacationing with her family in Praia da Luz, Portugal, in May 2007 when she vanished from her hotel room while her parents were dining a short distance away on the resort property, as CrimeOnline previously reported.
The investigation has been active for years, though authorities had not named an official suspect until last year, when prosecutors in Germany said they believed Brueckner, who is currently in prison on an unrelated conviction, was involved in Madeleine’s disappearance and presumed murder.
“All I can do is ask for your patience. I personally think a conclusion will be reached next year,” prosecutor Hans Christian Wolters told the UK tabloid The Mirror. “We have no body and no DNA, but we have other evidence. Based on the evidence we have, it leads to no other conclusion.”
While the evidence they have is “circumstantial, Wolters said it’s strong enough to charge Brueckner, 44, with McCann’s disappearance and death, but they are taking the time they need to build an airtight case.
“When we still have questions,” he said. “It would be nonsense to charge rather than wait for the answers that could strengthen our position.
“That’s why we said we’ll investigate as long as there are leads or information for us to pursue. I’m not saying that what we have is insufficient now. But he’s in prison, so we don’t have this pressure on us. We have time on our hands.”
Brueckner has denied any involvement with McCann.
Wolters said the investigation “could have gone better.”
“Of course we hoped we’d get such good tip-offs that the investigation might have already ended,” he said. “But the case is progressing.”
“We’ve found no evidence to clear Mr Brueckner of suspicion. Everything we’ve found fits in the picture.”
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[Featured image: Christian Brueckner and Madeleine McCann/handouts]
