Madeleine McCann: Parents vow to continue search after Covid slows down efforts, say they still have hope
Madeleine McCann's parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, who have been trying to find the remains of their daughter for more than a decade, shared a New Year message on the ‘Official Find Madeleine Campaign’ Facebook page on New Year day, saying their thoughts and prayers are with everyone who has suffered during 2020.
“Goodbye 2020. What a year! One we don’t want to remember but will find it hard to forget. There’s no doubt that 2020 has been tough for most people, and often distressing, with so much loss, worry and isolation. Despite losing a parent each, we are aware we have been more fortunate than many, with our family unit at home and jobs to go to. Understandably, the investigation to find Madeleine has been forced to slow down as a result of the pandemic. It hasn’t stopped however and the hope, energy and determination to find her and uncover the truth remain steadfast,” they wrote.
They also added: “We are very grateful for the continued support, especially throughout this ‘rubbish’ year and for all the Christmas wishes too. Thank you. Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone who has suffered this year. Let’s hope 2021 is a brighter, more positive one. With our best wishes for exactly that. Kate & Gerry.”
Madeleine was just three when she went missing from a holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, Portugal, in May 2007 while on a vacation with her parents and twin siblings. The toddler was sleeping with her siblings Sean and Amelie at the time. The parents still believe their daughter is not dead, but prosecutors working in the case are convinced she is not alive.
In June 2020, German police identified Christian Brueckner as the prime suspect in Madeleine’s case. At the time, Madeleine’s parents issued a statement that stated, “All we have ever wanted is to find her, uncover the truth and bring those responsible to justice. We will never give up hope of finding Madeleine alive but whatever the outcome may be, we need to know as we need to find peace. We would like to thank the general public for their ongoing support and encourage anyone who has information directly related to the appeal, to contact the police.”
In December, the chief investigator — Hans Christian Wolters — even said that the 46-year-old accused had murdered the little girl. He claimed if the public were to see the proof they would say the same. “If you knew the evidence we had you would come to the same conclusion as I do but I can’t give you details because we don’t want the accused to know what we have on him — these are tactical considerations,” Wolters said in a TV interview as he added: “I can’t promise, I can’t guarantee that we have enough to bring a charge but I’m very confident because what we have so far doesn’t allow any other conclusion at all.” The German national is currently serving sentence for unrelated drug trafficking in the northern German city of Kiel. He is also guilty of raping a 72-year-old American woman in 2005 and for which he received seven years in jail at a court in Brunswick, Lower Saxony.