Since Madeleine vanished from her family’s holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, Portugal, in 2007, her case has remained a focus of global attention.
Kate and Gerry McCann have dedicated themselves to finding their daughter, keeping hope alive despite the passage of time.
Marking the 17th anniversary of Madeleine’s disappearance, the McCanns shared a heartfelt message on the Finding Madeleine website and posted a touching update to mark her 21st birthday.
But the pair also made a heartbreaking confession about their missing daughter.
Madeleine was last seen on May 3, 2007, while on a family holiday in Praia da Luz.
Her parents had left her and her younger siblings asleep in their apartment as they dined at a nearby restaurant with friends.
The search for Madeleine remains ongoing.
Home Office minister Lord Sharpe of Epsom recently confirmed that funding for Operation Grange — the Metropolitan Police investigation dedicated to Madeleine’s case — will continue. In a statement shared by LBC, he announced that £192,000 has been allocated for the 2024–25 financial year to support ongoing efforts to find her.
As of March 31, 2024, the investigation has cost a total of £13.2 million and currently operates with a part-time team of three officers and one police staff member.
The Independent recently reported that Julian Peribañez, a private investigator once hired by the McCann family, has returned to Praia da Luz to revisit the scene of Madeleine McCann’s disappearance. He’s following up on potential leads that may have been missed by Portuguese authorities.
“The kind of person who knows what happened lurks in the underground of every city or town,” Peribañez remarked.
Christian Brueckner, a convicted German rapist, remains the prime suspect in the case but has not been formally charged in connection to Madeleine’s disappearance. Brueckner, who has denied any involvement, is currently serving a prison sentence for an unrelated crime committed in Portugal in 2005, according to The Independent.
On what would have been Madeleine McCann’s 21st birthday, Kate and Gerry McCann shared a heartfelt message, reflecting on their enduring grief and gratitude for the public’s unwavering support.
“It’s hard to even say that number without shaking our heads in disbelief. While we are fortunate in many ways and able to live a relatively normal and happy life now, the constant uncertainty is deeply unsettling. And the emptiness from her absence still aches,” they wrote.
They added, “Thank you again for keeping Madeleine and all missing children in your hearts.”
The Find Maddie Campaign Facebook page echoed this sentiment, posting one of the last known photos of Madeleine, accompanied by the simple, powerful word: hope.
