Over 15 years later, the case of Madeleine McCann remains unresolved. While many suspect that she was abducted, various theories have emerged within the true crime community, yet none have provided definitive answers.
In this article, we will outline the timeline of the night Madeleine went missing, explore potential theories and suspects, and discuss the current status of the case. On April 28, 2007, Gerry and Kate McCann from Rothley, Leicestershire, UK, embarked on a week-long vacation to Portugal with several friends. Their eldest child, Madeleine, was approaching her fourth birthday on May 12.
The group included Fiona and David Payne along with their two children and Fiona’s mother, Dianne Webster; Matthew and Rachael Oldfield and their daughter; and Jane Tanner and Russell O’Brien, who also brought their two children.
The day of Madeleine’s disappearance, May 3, 2007, was described as typical by the McCanns. Madeleine and her siblings spent part of the day at the resort’s childcare center before enjoying time at the pool with their parents. The children were all tucked into bed around 7 pm, and the McCanns departed for dinner at a restaurant within the resort at approximately 8:35 pm.
On the second-to-last night of their stay at the Ocean Club in Praia da Luz, Portugal, the adults gathered at a tapas restaurant within the complex, a gathering that would later be referred to as the “Tapas Seven.” The restaurant was located about 100 feet from the McCanns’ apartment.At 10:00 PM, Kate McCann Realized Madeleine Was Missing
At approximately 9:05 PM, about half an hour after the McCanns had departed for dinner, Gerry returned to their apartment and discovered all three children asleep in their room. He observed that the bedroom door was ajar wider than he had left it but presumed that Madeleine had gotten up after he and Kate had left for their meal.
Matthew Oldfield volunteered to check on the McCann children at 9:30 PM. He later informed authorities that the bedroom door was left wide open, although he could not recall if the window was also open. He mentioned that he only saw the twins in bed and was uncertain whether Madeleine was still in the apartment.
At 10:00 PM, less than an hour after Gerry last saw Madeleine, Kate entered the apartment and noticed the bedroom door was closed. Upon entering the room, she found the twins asleep, but Madeleine was missing. The bedroom window was open, likely causing the door to close. It was at this moment that the search for Madeleine commenced. In June 2020, German authorities announced their suspicion of Christian Brückner, then 43, in connection with the kidnapping and murder of Madeleine McCann. Brückner, who was serving a seven-year prison sentence in Germany for sexual assault, had been in Praia da Luz on the night of Madeleine’s disappearance, and cell phone records indicated he was near the apartment complex two hours prior to Kate McCann reporting her missing.
Brückner asserted that he was with a woman during the time frame when Madeleine was allegedly abducted. Initially, he could not recall the woman’s name but later identified her.
As of May 2022, Brückner remained incarcerated, and German police continued to gather evidence to pursue charges against him. More than 15 years later, the investigation into Madeleine McCann’s disappearance remains active.
