Madeleine McCann is the infamous three-year-old girl who went missing while her family was at a Portuguese holiday resort, Praia da Luz, on the Algarve on May 3, 2007. This is a detailed timeline of how the young girl's disappearance captivated the world.
April 2007: A Supposedly Joyous Family Vacation
The story begins when the McCann family, which includes Madeleine, her parents, doctors Kate and Gerry, and her two-year-old twin siblings, became part of a group of seven family friends and their five kids who were on holiday at the Ocean Club found in the village of Prai da Luz on Apr. 28, 2007.
May 2007: The Mysterious Disappearance
A few days later, the adults ate dinner at the resort's open-air tapas bar around 8:30 p.m. on May 3, 2007. They left the children, who were sleeping, behind at their respective apartments, leaving the doors unlocked. They had a rota system to ensure they took turns checking up on the kids every half hour.
When it was Kate McCann's turn to check up on the children at around 10:00 p.m., she was heard screaming that Madeleine was gone and someone had taken her. The group immediately called law enforcement personnel, and they had help from 6- staff and fellow guests to search the complex, as per the Independent.
June 2007: Criticism of Police
Many later criticized the police for their initial response to the young girl's disappearance, including making rudimentary mistakes. The Portuguese police chief also admitted that crucial forensic evidence might have been destroyed due to the crime scene not being appropriately protected.
January 2008: A Potential Lead
The McCanns released sketches of a potential suspect based on a British holidaymaker's description of a supposed "creepy man" he saw at the resort.
A month before the first anniversary of the young girl's disappearance, Portuguese police went to Leicestershire to interview the McCanns' friends. Portugal's Attorney-General Fernando Jose Pinto Monteiro said on July 21, 2008, that there was no evidence to link the McCanns or Robert Murat, the first suspect, to the disappearance and closed the case, leaving it unsolved.
July 2008: Police Close the Case
Law enforcement said they had submitted their final report on the case while it was still unsolved. According to BBC, authorities also shelved their investigations weeks later and lifted the McCanns' "arguido" status.
May 2009 to 2012: McCann Family Tries To Encourage a New Search for Madeleine
The McCanns continued to try and spark an interest in continuing the investigation of Madeleine's disappearance, appearing on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" in May 2009. They also revealed a digitally-created image that showed what the missing young girl could have looked like at age six.
In 2011, the family published a book that detailed their take on the disappearance of Madeleine. They hoped the book would inspire others to come forward with any new and relevant information to help them locate or determine what happened with their daughter.
The family also planned to use profits from their book sales to fund a new investigation of the case. After a year-long review by London's Metropolitan Police, it released a new digital image of Madeleine at age nine.
October 2013: Reopening the Case
The case of the missing girl was reopened in October 2013 after British police released new sketches of potential suspects in Madeleine's disappearance. Authorities also made an appeal on the TV show "Crimewatch," which prompted more than 1,000 calls from the public, two of which named the same suspect.
June 2020: A Breakthrough Development
Officials identified a new suspect in June 2020 when British and German authorities began investigating a 43-year-old German man. The suspect has later named "Christian B." UK authorities described the latest development as a significant new line of inquiry in the case.
April 2022: Further Investigation of the Latest Suspect
Portuguese and German officials have continued investigating the latest suspect, who was later identified as Christian Bruckner and designated as an official suspect in the case. The incident marks the first time Portuguese prosecutors identified an official suspect after clearing Madeleine's parents.
May 2023: A New Search
The latest development in the missing girl's case has German authorities announcing that there would be a new search based in Portugal. Officials began the operation on the Arade reservoir near the Portuguese city of Silves, which is roughly 50 kilometers away from Praia da Luz.
Authorities conducted various search methods amid the operation and had samples tested for any material that could be used in the case. They are looking for evidence that could support suspicions of Bruckner, said CNN.
The latest search was ordered after officials discovered pictures of the reservoir on Bruckner's computer. The official suspect was found to have spent much time at the reservoir during his time in Portugal, calling it a "paradise."