A fundraising campaign purportedly initiated by Christian Brueckner, the prime suspect in the Madeleine McCann case, has been launched on GoFundMe, urging individuals to contribute money for his relocation from Germany.
Brueckner, a convicted rapist recently released from prison after serving time for a sexual assault in Portugal’s Algarve region, where Madeleine vanished, expressed his desire to depart Germany. He set a target of €26,000 (£22,860) to facilitate his exit from the country through the crowdfunding platform.
In his plea directed at German taxpayers, Brueckner cited wanting to escape the constant suspicion and scrutiny he faced, aiming for a fresh start away from the country. He outlined specific amounts, mentioning that €10 could cover his airport coffee while €50 could fund a one-way ticket to a jurisdiction beyond Germany’s law enforcement reach.
Stressing the potential benefits of his departure, Brueckner emphasized the relief it would bring to Germany, the media, and the community, framing it as a humanitarian gesture. Despite receiving unemployment benefits and residing in a quiet suburb post-release, public backlash led to a petition for his eviction, prompting authorities to relocate him to southern Germany for increased anonymity.
The fundraising campaign managed to collect €100 in donations before being taken down by GoFundMe for violating its terms of service. A spokesperson from GoFundMe confirmed the removal and reassured that donors had been refunded promptly.