Suspected kidnapper Christian B. (47) in court: This is what you need to know about the Maddie kidnapping case

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Maddie – real name Madeleine Beth McCann – disappeared from a holiday apartment in the Portuguese seaside resort of Praia da Luz in the Algarve on May 3, 2007. She was there on holiday with her parents and her younger twin siblings. Despite many clues, she is still missing today.

The disappearance of the British woman, who would have turned four years old a few days later, moved the whole world. Her photo has also left a lasting impression on many people: a little girl looking straight into the camera with her big eyes. Her special feature: a spot in her right eye.

Maddie’s parents Kate and Gerald McCann – a doctor couple from Rothley, England – were at a nearby restaurant at the time of their daughter’s disappearance. There they dined with couples who were friends of theirs. The mother reportedly noticed Maddie’s disappearance later that evening. The only clue: a previously closed window was now open.

While the investigation was ongoing, the parents were repeatedly targeted by police. The Portuguese investigators in particular believed they were guilty, especially when they discovered traces of blood in the McCanns’ holiday apartment and rental car. But the allegations were never substantiated. Later, the blood traces could not be clearly identified.

The parents repeatedly go outside to keep up the interest in Maddie’s case – and therefore the chance that they will find her. They have already been criticized for this: their behavior is atypical as parents of a missing person.

A day after her disappearance, her parents contacted her kidnapper. They begged him to release them. Celebrities such as Cristiano Ronaldo also supported the parents’ call.

Shortly afterwards it became known that a Scottish entrepreneur paid around 1.5 million euros for information leading to Maddie’s discovery. Many celebrities supported him and increased the amount to several million euros. Like David Beckham.

A few days after Maddie’s disappearance, the parents traveled to different countries to convince locals to look for their daughter. In Italy, as Catholics, they took part in a general audience with the then Pope Benedict XVI. part. He blessed the parents and a photo of Maddie.

Maddie McCann is still missing. Some suspect she is dead. But there is no evidence for that. Even years later, her parents never gave up hope that Maddie was still alive.

Since mid-2020, German Christian B.* (47) has been suspected of being Maddie’s alleged kidnapper. At the time of her disappearance, the sexual predator was also living in the Algarve.

Braunschweig’s chief prosecutor stated in September 2020 that there was evidence of Maddie’s death. In 2022, the Public Prosecution Service filed a complaint against Christian B. He will now appear in court in Braunschweig from Friday – not for Maddie, but for five other sexual crimes such as rape and child abuse. Blick is on site and taps live from the courtroom.

*Name changed

Source: Blick