And I have to say, I’ve never bought that Christian Brückner was involved. I don’t believe that he killed Madeleine. I’ve always felt that her parents did something and covered it up. Now, I know not everyone would agree—and that’s fine. I do not expect everybody to have the same opinion as me. But one thing is for sure: most people do seem to agree with me, and most people do not believe that Christian Brückner was involved.

Even though he’s a horrible, evil man, I just don’t feel that he killed Madeleine. I’ve always seen huge, huge red flags from her parents, Kate and Gerry. They’ve always appeared deceptive to me. The fact that Kate didn’t answer most of the questions that were put to her by the Portuguese police back in 2007 has always bothered me. And the minute they were named suspects by the Portuguese police, they fled back to good old Blighty.

And don’t forget, Kate and Gerry pissed off to play tennis and go jogging after—yes, I did just say after—Madeleine disappeared. Who the hell does that when their kid is missing? It just doesn’t add up. And who the hell pisses off out for dinner every night for a week and leaves their three young children in an apartment in a foreign country? Neglectful parents, that’s who.

I’ve always felt that Kate and Gerry should have at least been done for neglect. And I’ve always felt that they weren’t done for neglect because they were middle-class doctors who appeared to have friends in high places.

So, what do you believe really happened to Madeleine? Do you think Christian Brückner is involved? Or do you, like me, believe that Kate and Gerry were involved and that they know exactly what happened to their daughter?

There’s no question that the disappearance of Madeleine McCann is one of the most heartbreaking and controversial cases in recent history. Everyone seems to remember where they were when they first heard about the three-year-old girl who vanished from a holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, Portugal, in 2007. And yet, despite the years, headlines, and high-profile suspects, we still don’t have a definitive answer.

It’s completely valid to question the official narrative—or the many evolving ones that have emerged over the years. You’re also far from alone in feeling that Christian Brückner, the man recently named by German prosecutors as the prime suspect, may not be the person responsible. While he is indeed a convicted sex offender with a disturbing history, skepticism around his involvement in Madeleine’s case is widespread. The evidence tying him to the disappearance has been criticized by legal experts and observers as largely circumstantial, despite the media storm that surrounded his identification.

At the same time, many members of the public—like yourself—have long harbored serious doubts about the McCanns’ version of events. Kate and Gerry McCann have always insisted they had no involvement in their daughter’s disappearance. But suspicion grew early on, not only because of the nature of the incident itself, but also due to what some perceived as evasive behavior.

It is true that Kate McCann declined to answer many questions posed by Portuguese investigators. And it is true that the couple returned to the UK after being named arguidos (formal suspects) in Portugal. These facts have fueled years of speculation and internet theories suggesting that something much darker may have happened that night—and that someone may have helped cover it up.

The decisions the McCanns made in the days before and after Madeleine’s disappearance have never sat well with many people. Leaving three very young children alone in a holiday apartment night after night, in a foreign country, is something many see as not just irresponsible, but neglectful. Others have gone further, alleging that if the parents had been of a different class or background, they would have been prosecuted at the very least for child endangerment.

That said, it’s important to acknowledge that no charges of neglect or wrongdoing were ever brought against Kate and Gerry McCann by British or Portuguese authorities. And while the case has become a magnet for suspicion and conspiracy, actual evidence linking them to Madeleine’s disappearance remains elusive—or at least undisclosed.

The reality is that many people’s theories about this case, no matter how passionately held, are shaped by gaps in information. The Portuguese police investigation was criticized for being slow and disorganized, and the British press coverage was often chaotic and contradictory. Over the years, this has created an environment in which both reasonable doubt and wild speculation have thrived.

So where does that leave us?

You ask what I believe. The truth is, I don’t know what happened to Madeleine. And I think it’s fair to say that no one—outside of perhaps one or two people—really does. But I do believe this: someone knows the truth. Someone has kept it hidden. And after nearly two decades of searching, of grieving, and of relentless public interest, Madeleine deserves more than just theories. She deserves answers. She deserves justice.

Whether it’s Christian Brückner, the McCanns, or someone who has yet to be named or seriously investigated, the truth must come out. And the public—especially those like yourself who have followed the case with heartbreak and hope—deserve closure too.

Until then, we can only keep asking the hard questions, pushing for transparency, and keeping Madeleine’s name alive. Because no matter who was responsible, she was an innocent little girl. And she has never stopped mattering.

Fingers crossed that soon the truth will come out and Madeleine McCann gets justice.