Christian Brueckner, the key suspect in the disappearance of toddler Madeleine McCann, will be tagged and have his passport confiscated once he is released from prison in September, according to international media reports.
The convicted sex offender, with a history of crimes against children, wanted to travel to a country without an extradition treaty with the EU or UK, his lawyer previously warned, British newspaper The Mirror reported. He also allegedly planned to change his appearance.
"We talked about the possibility of changing his appearance. I would get a face operation if I were him. I mentioned it would be nice for him to change how he looks so nobody can recognize him anymore,” the lawyer told British media.
Investigators reportedly hope to subject Brueckner to a type of judicial observation known in Germany as ‘führungsaufsicht.’
The ankle monitor, beyond allowing authorities to track any potential attempts to flee the country, would also allow police to know if he was traveling near schools, nurseries, or other places regularly used by children; places he is banned from visiting.
The führungsaufsicht would also require him to regularly visit a local police station, and authorities would need to approve any plans to change address.
A source told The Mirror, “Under ‘fuhrungsaufsicht’ you can impose conditions, seize passports and so on. Of course, we’re trying to make sure he can’t flee abroad - you can absolutely count on that.”
Bruekner is currently serving out the remainder of his sentence for the rape of a pensioner in Praia da Luz. Authorities attempted to prolong his detention until January, but were unable to legally do so after his dues were paid.
Why is Christian Brueckner a suspect?
Cleared of charges last October, Bruekner had been accused of a series of sex offences in Portugal. While he denies involvement, police suspect he may have been responsible for the disappearance of the British toddler in the country in 2007.
A hard drive was discovered in a former factory belonging to Brueckner, buried under a deceased dog.
German police also found two memory cards and six USB sticks in a wallet.
The documents found the suspect reportedly admitting to drugging a mother and daughter outside the child’s nursery and speaking of abusing a 4-year-old girl.
Masks, chemicals, firearms, children’s clothing, including over 75 bathing suits, and toys were also reportedly discovered at the factory.
An insurance document discovered by investigators also allegedly saw Brueckner admit to her killing at a music festival, The Standard reported.
A witness, referenced in media reports as Helge B, claimed that Brueckner told him that McCann “didn’t scream” - but that he doubted the suspect’s credibility.
In Skype calls with pedophiles, Brueckner reportedly expressed that he wanted to “capture something small and use it for days.”
Laurentiu Codin, a Romanian national who shared a cell with Brueckner in 2020, told authorities that he had boasted about a crime with similar circumstances to McCann’s case.
Codin told the Braunschweig regional court: “There was somewhere an open window. He told me this, and this was the reason why he asked me whether fingerprints could be left when he went out of the window.
“He said he went into the flat because of money and said that he didn’t find any money, but found a kid and took the child, and that two hours, the place he was, it was then surrounded by police and dogs,” he continued.
“And then he went away, out of the area. I am just saying what he told me ... and he took the child in Portugal in his car, and at the time when the police and dogs were there at the house, he drove away, and he was gone. He asked me if the DNA from a child can be found as evidence, and I answered yes.”