Maddie McCann suspect says he ‘did nothing – well almost nothing’ in prison letter denying kidnapping

The top suspect in the 2007 abduction of Madeleine McCann claims he “did nothing – well almost nothing” in a letter from his prison cell.

The prime suspect in Madeleine McCann’s disappearance calls himself “the most known bad person in the world” in a five-page letter from his prison cell, while also denying any links to the 2007 abduction.

On Friday, the Portuguese prosecutor’s office confirmed that convicted rapist and child sex offender, Christian Brueckner has been named an “arguidi” or “formal suspect” in the disappearance of the three-year-old.

While German police have been investigating the child sex offender’s potential role in Madeleine’s disappearance since 2020, he has not been charged with the crime in either country.

Christian Brueckner was also arrested for drug trafficking in Italy. Picture: Italian Carabinieri/AFP

German police believe the sex offender Brueckner abducted and killed Madeleine. Picture: Bild/Supplied

The British girl disappeared from a Portuguese holiday apartment while her parents were at dinner in the tourist resort town of Praia da Luz.

Writing to an unnamed woman from the Oldenberg jail in Germany, Brueckner said he believed that his former crimes may have led authorities to name him as a suspect.

The 45-year-old is currently serving a seven-year sentence for the 2005 rape of a 72-year-old woman.

He is also being investigated for another five alleged offences, including three cases of rape and two cases of child molestation, the most recent dating back to 2017.

“Welcome to the biggest adventure you can imagine,” he wrote in a letter published by The Daily Mail.

“I’m the most-known bad person in the world and I did nothing – well almost nothing. Perhaps I was a suspect after all they found out about me. Drug dealer, breaking into houses, living in cars and there was something with kids when I was 17.”

Madeleine McCann disappeared nearly 15 years ago. Picture: Metropolitan Police/AFP

Brueckner denied “kidnapping” or “killing” anybody and said police had “not even one proof that I was involved with the McCann case”.

“I’ll go further, I’ll tell you I wasn’t attacking anybody after I was 18,” he continued.

“I made some silly mistakes when I was younger but who hasn’t?”

He also made the startling accusation that the German police and prosecutor had unfairly tied him to the case in order to make themselves “well known all over the world as the smartest organisation ever”.

“I know why. Because they have no hairs or anything from Madeleine what means [sic] that nobody can put anything like that into my stuff to find it.”

Brueckner’s lawyer, Friedrich Fulscher also denied the latest developments around his client’s involvement with the case.

Kate and Gerry McCann continue to hold out hope their daughter could be alive. Picture: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

After Brueckner was announced as an official suspect in Madeleine’s disappearance, her parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, said they still had hope that their daughter is alive.

This year on May 3 marks the 15th anniversary of her disappearance, meaning Madeleine would be nearly 19 years old.

Despite Portugal’s 15-year statute of limitations for crimes which carry a maximum prison sentence of 10 years or more, by declaring Brueckner an “arguidi”, authorities are able to continue investigations.

In a statement issued on Friday, the couple said they “welcome the news”.

“This reflects progress in the investigation, being conducted by the Portuguese, German and British authorities,” they wrote.

“We are kept informed of developments by the [London] Metropolitan Police.

“Even though the possibility may be slim, we have not given up hope that Madeleine is still alive and we will be reunited with her.”

The child disappeared during a family holiday in Portugal. Picture: Handout/AFP

However, in a sensational development, a former lover known to Brueckner said he knew “what happened to little Madeleine from England”.

Speaking to The Sun, Anastasia Meckesy, 34, made a series of bold claims.

“He said she was ‘probably handed over’ to someone after being taken and, if she were still alive today, they would have found her by now,’” she said.

“We had spoken about the case because the local police wanted to question him. He was nervous and seemed stressed.

“He didn’t say much about it — just, ‘I lived in Portugal at that time in the Algarve and everyone is suspicious.’”