TW: mentions of sexual abuse
Discover our latest podcast
Madeleine McCann went missing in Praia da Luz, Portugal in 2007, and her disappearance caused a media storm. The three-year-old was snatched from a room in which her younger twin siblings were also sleeping, all while her parents had dinner at a nearby restaurant. The adults took it in turns to come and check on the kids, but when it was Madeleine’s mum’s turn, she found that her little girl was gone. Originally, Kate and Gerry McCann faced a lot of criticism for having left their children unattended - and they were even suspects for a while.
However, the police then decided on a prime suspect, Christian Brueckner, who is currently serving time for the sexual abuse of a 72-year-old American woman at her home in Praia da Luz in 2005. He has been accused of several other crimes, with one man claiming to have seen videos of Brueckner committing horrific acts that he allegedly recorded himself to keep a record. Now, police have raided the home of another man said to have been close with the criminal.
Who is Ralph H?
Madeleine went missing 17 years ago, but the police are still trying to get to the bottom of what really happened to her. It has now emerged that last week, armed officers descended on the house of a man in Germany thought to have been close to Brueckner. Neighbours described the raid as ‘frightening’.
The property was on the Kennelblick allotment in Braunschweig, Lower Saxony. The man who lives there has only been named as Ralph H, a 56-year-old man said to have worked with Brueckner - who used to rent a property just next door. The pair reportedly grew and sold marijuana together.
Ralph H’s connection to Madeleine McCann
The police wanted to speak with this man because they believe he may have information related to Madeleine’s disappearance. Ralph H has previously admitted to helping the criminal during other illegal operations:
I acted as a lookout for him during burglaries and as a getaway driver as well.
More disturbingly, he has also confessed:
I know exactly the sort of crimes he got up to and what he did on the dark web.
A detective with BKA - which is Germany's version of the FBI - stated that Ralph H is ‘not at home, he doesn't answer the phone, he's apparently disappeared’. The agent went on:
We urgently need to speak to this man in connection to his relationship with Christian B.
However, without a search warrant, the police could not enter the property. They spoke to neighbours who confirmed that Brueckner and Ralph H were close, with one stating:
Ralph definitely knows everything about Brueckner’s life.
Time will tell whether they manage to catch up with him to ask about what the criminal was up to.
Read more:
⋙ Madeleine McCann suspect Christian Brueckner disowned by adoptive mother: 'I have said goodbye'
⋙ Revealed: Madeleine McCann prime suspect 'had fits of uncontrollable rage'
⋙ Maddie McCann: The main suspect on trial for five other cases in Europe
Sources used:
Express: New Madeleine McCann suspect's house raided by armed police 17 years after disappearance
The Sun: MADDIE BOMBSHELL Armed cops swoop on home of Madeleine McCann suspect Christian Brueckner’s getaway driver as urgent manhunt launched
