Madeleine McCann, a British girl, disappeared on May 3, 2007, at the age of three from a holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, Portugal, while her parents dined at a nearby restaurant. Despite extensive investigations by Portuguese, British, and German authorities, her whereabouts remain unknown and she has never been found

. The initial investigation included various leads and suspects, but no conclusive evidence emerged. Madeleine's parents were briefly considered suspects but were cleared due to lack of evidence

. Over time, the case attracted enormous media attention and public interest worldwide

. In 2020, German prosecutors named Christian Brückner, a convicted sex offender living in the area at the time, as the prime suspect in Madeleine's disappearance. German authorities believe Madeleine is likely deceased, although no body has been found. Brückner denies involvement, and as of 2025, he remains imprisoned in Germany for unrelated crimes, with his release date delayed due to an unpaid fine

. Madeleine's family continues to search for her and hold out hope, marking anniversaries of her disappearance with statements expressing their determination to find her and their ongoing grief

. In summary, Madeleine McCann vanished under mysterious circumstances in 2007, and despite decades of investigation and a prime suspect identified, her fate remains unresolved and she has not been found