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Exactly 17 years ago, Maddie McCann disappeared without a trace. A German is a suspect, but it is still unclear whether there is enough evidence to charge him.
Munich – 17 years have already passed since the disappearance of Maddie McCann on May 3, 2007, when the then three-year-old disappeared without a trace from a holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, Portugal. The British girl, who would be almost 21 today, remains missing. Numerous theories have been put forward about Maddie’s whereabouts over the years, including suggestions that she may still be alive. Her parents were also suspected.
Maddie McCann case: Christian B. is on trial for other crimes
The focus is now on a specific suspect from Germany – Christian B. There are currently legal proceedings against him, but not in relation to Maddie’s disappearance. The man is currently on trial for two cases of sexual abuse of children and possible three counts of rape. During the investigation into Maddie McCann, more and more evidence of these other crimes emerged.
Although the Braunschweig public prosecutor’s office is of the opinion that Maddie could have been killed by him, the presumption of innocence still exists. So far, no charges have been brought against Christian B. in the case of the missing girl.
On the day of Maddie McCann’s disappearance: mobile phone registered in cell phone near the holiday apartment
But what gives reason to believe that Christian B. could be the perpetrator? He lived in Portugal for years and when the girl disappeared, his cell phone was registered to the holiday apartment in a cell phone nearby. Which suggests that he must have been in the immediate vicinity of the crime scene.
The senior prosecutor in the Braunschweig public prosecutor’s office, Christian Wolters, made this statement at the end of last year BBC very confident about the perpetrator in the Maddie case. “If you knew the evidence we have you would come to the same conclusion as me, but I can’t give you any details because we don’t want the accused to know what we have on him – that is tactical considerations,” he explained. The exact evidence against B. therefore remains uncertain.
Wolters added that the available evidence is not yet sufficient to bring charges against the suspect. “I can’t promise, I can’t guarantee that we have enough to bring an indictment, but I’m very confident because what we have so far doesn’t allow any other conclusion at all,” emphasized the prosecutor.
New lead in the Maddie case? Mercedes could be a clue
Recently a new lead came into play, that of the British newspaper The Sun was revealed. She reported on a van that was possibly owned by Christian B. at the time of Maddie’s disappearance. The Federal Criminal Police Office then assured that it would investigate this lead in more detail. “We are on the trail of the matter and thank you for the tip,” said a BKA source The Sun. Theoretically, there could still be traces of people in the Mercedes who were inside.
Upon request from IPPEN.MEDIA No new details were revealed by Senior Public Prosecutor Christian Wolters regarding this new lead and the current status of the investigation in the Maddie case. However, the investigations should continue unchanged. A quick conclusion to the missing person case is not in sight. Wolters explains: “I think it is impossible for the investigation into the Maddie case to be concluded this year, also in view of the trial that will run until the autumn.” The trial against B. has now been extended until October.
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