The search for Madeleine McCann is back on.
Almost 20 years after McCann disappeared from a resort in Lagos, Portugal, at age 3, authorities in the country have reignited the search at the request of German authorities who are investigating Christian Brueckner—a convicted rapist they suspect of killing McCann, though he has not been formally charged. (Brueckner has denied any involvement in her disappearance.)
According to the Associated Press, citing a Portuguese police statement, detectives will carry out “a broad range” of searches this week near Lagos.
On June 3, per AFP, several police vehicles were seen driving down a dirt road near where McCann disappeared, with about 25 German investigators with them. The new search is expected to last until Friday, June 6, per the outlet.
Near the area that is being searched is, per AFP, a dwelling where Brueckner lived at the time. The area is reportedly also home to many ditches and wells.
Brueckner was named as a suspect in McCann’s disappearance in 2020 by police, though at the time German media only identified him as “Christian B.,” per the BBC. (He would later be declared an official suspect in 2022.)
At the time, McCann’s parents Kate McCann and Gerry McCann—who have forever maintained innocence in their daughter’s disappearance—expressed their gratitude to police.
“All we have ever wanted is to find her, uncover the truth and bring those responsible to justice,” they shared at the time, per the BBC. “We will never give up hope of finding Madeleine alive, but whatever the outcome may be, we need to know as we need to find peace.”
Five years later, this past May, it was announced Brueckner will be released from the German prison where he’s been serving time for his conviction of raping a 72-year-old woman in Portugal in 2005.
He is scheduled to go free in September after being acquitted last year of five other sex offense charges, according to BBC News. Prosecutors have appealed the decision.
Over the years, McCann’s parents have been candid about their ongoing hope for answers, no matter that the results may be, as they seek to keep their late daughter close.
“The years appear to be passing even more quickly and whilst we have no significant news to share, our determination to ‘leave no stone unturned’ is unwavering,” they wrote on their Find Madeleine website May 3, the 18th anniversary of her disappearance. “We will do our utmost to achieve this.”
They added, noting May also would have marked McCann’s 22nd birthday, “No matter how near or far she is, she continues to be right here with us, every day, but especially on her special day. We continue to ‘celebrate’ her as the very beautiful and unique person she is. We miss her.”
