Christian Brueckner, the convicted sex offender and prime suspect in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, has reportedly created a GoFundMe page soliciting funds to leave Germany.
The Fundraiser Details
The 48-year-old, who was recently released from prison after serving a seven-year sentence for the rape of a 72-year-old woman in Portugal's Algarve region, is asking the public for €26,000 (approximately £22,860). In a plea directed at German taxpayers on the popular fundraising platform, Brueckner stated he has a chance to 'leave Germany legally'.
He framed the request as an escape from what he calls a 'constant wave of suspicion, the prejudgments, and the gruelling witch hunt'. His goal, as stated on the page, is to reach a 'sunny nowhere' beyond the jurisdiction of Germany's Federal Criminal Police Office.
Brueckner's Justification and Requests
Brueckner broke down his financial needs, suggesting that a donation of 10 Euros would fund his coffee at the airport, while 50 Euros could contribute towards a one-way ticket. He attempted to position his departure as a benefit to the German public, claiming that 'Germany would have peace and quiet' and the media would 'enjoy a well-deserved summer lull'.
He disingenuously framed the act of funding his relocation as a 'purely humanitarian' gesture, adding that 'everyone has the right to rest and a fresh start.' This initiative follows previous comments he made to a friend, where he indicated that if people wanted him to leave, they should make it possible by providing financial help.
Context and Ongoing Situation
Brueckner has been a leading suspect in the high-profile case of Madeleine McCann, who went missing from a holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, Portugal, in 2007. The Algarve region, where he was convicted for his previous violent crime, is the same area from which the young girl vanished.
Despite his status as a suspect in one of the most famous missing person cases in modern history, Brueckner has been receiving unemployment benefits in Germany while ostensibly seeking employment. The Mirror has confirmed that it has contacted GoFundMe for an official comment regarding the presence of the fundraiser on its platform.
