Three-year-old Madeleine McCann disappeared from her bed on holiday in 2007. Now, investigators believe they have a credible suspect who can know what happened to McCann. Peter Van Sant joins “CBS This Morning” with the investigation into this suspect on this week’s “48 Hours”.
Video transcription
– This week’s “48 hours” investigates a new suspect in the disappearance of a child who made international headlines. Madeleine McCann was just three years old in 2007 when she disappeared from her bed at a resort in Portugal while on holiday with her family. ‘From 48 hours’ correspondent Peter Van Sant looks at the German suspect, Christian Brueckner, and why authorities believe he may know what happened.
PETER VAN SANT: In May 2007, British doctors Gerry and Kate McCann went on holiday with their children to a beach resort in Praia da Luz, Portugal. As they did every night, the McCanns left their children asleep in their apartment and met their friends for dinner about 50 yards away. Jane Hills is a BBC News anchor who discussed Madeleine’s story.
JANE HILL: And the friends took turns just watching their sleeping children.
PETER VAN SANT: At 22:00, when it is Kate’s turn, she finds this bed, Madeleine’s bed, empty.
KATE MCCANN: Please do not hurt her. Please do not scare her. Please tell us where we can get her.
– Madeleine, Madeleine, Madeleine, Madeleine.
PETER VAN SANT: Despite a worldwide media storm, a multinational inquiry and investigation, years passed with no responses until last June.
– A German prisoner has been identified as a new suspect in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann.
PETER VAN SANT: German authorities in Braunschweig, Germany, made this announcement.
– [SPEAKING GERMAN]
INTERPRETER: The accused is a sex offender with several previous convictions.
PETER VAN SANT: The suspect’s name is Christian Brueckner.
MARK HOFFMAN: He absolutely agrees with the profile of someone who could possibly kidnap and / or kill a girl like Madeleine McCann.
PETER VAN SANT: Mark Hoffman is an analyst of crime and intelligence in Germany.
MARK HOFFMAN: His cellphone was found next to the crime scene the night Maddie disappeared.
PETER VAN SANT: Jim Gamble, former head of the UK’s Child Exploitation and Online Protection Center, is hopeful that this tragic issue can finally be resolved.
JIM GAMBLE: For the first time in 13 years I have to say that I actually felt here was a credible suspect.
PETER VAN SANT: And the big breakthrough in this case took place in 2017 when Brueckner told in a drunken confession, that he told a friend that he knew what happened to Madeleine McCann.
– Wow, Peter, thank you. Powerful story, hope there is news there. And you can watch Peter’s report, “The Puzzle Solving, the Madeleine McCann Case” on “48 Hours”, tomorrow night at 10:00 / 9:00 centrally here on CBS.