It’s been 18 years since Madeleine McCann vanished in Portugal, and now a chilling new lead suggests she may be dead. German suspect Christian Brueckner, a convicted rapist, was named in 2020. A former cellmate, Laurentiu Codin, testified that Brueckner admitted abducting a child in a “region of hotels” in Portugal, saying he had “stolen there.”

Brueckner denies involvement, but if not charged by September 2025, he could be released, adding pressure to investigators.

A documentary airing May 7 reveals what was found at Brueckner’s property: guns, children’s toys, 75 swimsuits, and no sign of his having children. Authorities also uncovered disturbing images, fantasies, and Skype chats. In one message, he wrote he wanted to “capture something small and use it for days.”

Photos place him near Arade Dam, 35 miles from Madeleine’s last known location. A friend recalled him saying the abducted girl “did not scream.”

Key evidence may lie in a hard drive seized in 2020. German prosecutor Hans Christian Wolters said, “We have strong evidence that Madeleine McCann is dead and that our suspect killed her.”

After nearly two decades, the McCann family still waits for justice — and answers.