Praia da Luz, Portugal – May 3, 2007. What began as an ordinary family holiday ended in one of the most perplexing and internationally followed missing persons cases of the 21st century.

Madeleine McCann disappearance: A timeline

Madeleine McCann, a three-year-old British girl, vanished from her family’s holiday apartment in the seaside resort town of Praia da Luz, triggering a global media frenzy, a massive international investigation, and years of unanswered questions.

Kate and Gerry McCann, both physicians from Leicestershire, England, were on vacation in Portugal with their three children — Madeleine and her younger twin siblings.

On the evening of May 3rd, the McCanns left their children asleep in their ground-floor apartment while they dined at a nearby tapas restaurant with friends, checking on the children at intervals throughout the evening.

At around 10:00 p.m. , Kate McCann returned to the apartment to find Madeleine missing.

The twins were still asleep, but Madeleine had vanished without a trace.

The window and shutters of the bedroom were open — a detail that would fuel years of speculation and debate.

Early Investigation and Controversy

Madeleine McCann: Suspect in 2007 disappearance of British girl freed from  German prison in unrelated case | CNN

Portuguese police initially treated the case as a missing child investigation but soon shifted their focus to a potential abduction.

Within weeks, inconsistencies in witness statements and a lack of physical evidence led to suspicion falling on the McCanns themselves.

In September 2007, both Kate and Gerry were declared arguidos (formal suspects) by Portuguese authorities.

This move ignited a firestorm of media attention, further polarized public opinion, and intensified scrutiny of the couple.

However, no charges were ever brought against them, and their suspect status was lifted in 2008.

The McCann case gained unprecedented media attention.

British newspapers ran daily updates, and news outlets across Europe and the world followed closely.

The combination of factors — a young, photogenic victim, the unusual circumstances of the disappearance, and the ongoing mystery — kept the story in the headlines.

The McCanns launched a high-profile campaign to find their daughter, including media appearances, press conferences, and the creation of the “Find Madeleine” fund.

The case became emblematic of the power of media to influence public opinion and keep a story in the spotlight for years.

Madeleine McCann disappearance: what do we know about the new suspect? | Madeleine  McCann | The Guardian

Operation Grange and New Leads

In 2011, the UK’s Metropolitan Police launched Operation Grange, a full-scale review and later formal investigation into Madeleine’s disappearance.

Over the next several years, the operation explored numerous theories and suspects, but concrete progress remained elusive.

In 2020, German authorities identified a new suspect: Christian Brückner, a convicted sex offender who was living in Portugal at the time of Madeleine’s disappearance.

Brückner, currently imprisoned in Germany for unrelated crimes, has denied involvement.

Despite mounting circumstantial evidence, no charges related to Madeleine’s disappearance have been brought against him as of 2025.

Woman claiming to be Madeleine McCann 'stalked' parents: UK court |  Courthouse News Service

Over the years, countless theories have emerged.

Some suggest that Madeleine was abducted by a stranger, others that she may have been the victim of a botched burglary or human trafficking.

A portion of the public still questions the McCanns’ actions and the initial police response.

The lack of definitive evidence has left the case open to public interpretation and speculation.

Madeleine McCann’s disappearance not only led to one of the most extensive missing persons investigations in history but also sparked broader conversations about child safety, parenting, media ethics, and international policing.

It revealed the challenges of cross-border law enforcement and the complex interplay between public interest and personal tragedy.

Nearly two decades later, the question remains: What happened to Madeleine McCann? Despite millions spent, countless leads, and global attention, the truth has yet to emerge.

Her case remains open, her photo still circulated, and her name forever etched into public memory.