A notorious suspect in the Madeleine McCann case, Christian Brueckner, hinted at a potential relocation destination in a plea posted on GoFundMe. The convicted rapist made a brief fundraising appeal seeking financial assistance to depart from Germany. Despite the campaign’s short duration of about three hours, Brueckner managed to collect €100 (£87.92) before the post was removed on Saturday evening.
In his now-deleted plea, Brueckner outlined his reasons for seeking donations and disclosed his plan to depart Germany. He boasted about his notoriety in Germany, claiming even the police addressed him informally. Brueckner requested €50 (£49.96) contributions to facilitate his move to a country without an extradition agreement with Germany’s Federal Criminal Police Office. This strategic relocation would prevent his potential return to Germany due to diplomatic or economic tensions between nations.
Expressing his desire for a fresh start away from constant suspicion and scrutiny, Brueckner stated on GoFundMe, “I have the opportunity to depart Germany legally. I seek respite from relentless suspicion, premature judgments, and relentless pursuit, into an undisclosed sunny location. The only missing element is financial backing.” Additionally, he mentioned the need for €500, possibly for accommodation unregistered with the public prosecutor’s office in Braunscweig.
Although Brueckner’s exact relocation plan remains unclear, his legal counsel previously suggested destinations without extradition agreements with the UK or Germany, such as Suriname in South America. Brueckner had served a sentence for assaulting a 72-year-old American woman in Portugal, where Madeleine disappeared, before his release earlier this year.
Anticipating support from disgruntled neighbors, Brueckner expressed his aspiration to gather funds to facilitate his departure. He expressed to a friend his reliance on financial assistance to leave, stating, “I just need to gather some funds. If people wish for my departure, they can make it happen by aiding me in this endeavor.”
A German court mandated Brueckner to wear an electronic monitoring device for five years, limiting his movements within the EU. However, the tracking device would be ineffective in non-EU countries and would require cooperation with another EU nation for enforcement. Brueckner’s lawyer previously recommended seeking asylum in a non-extradition state like Suriname to evade legal repercussions in Europe and the UK.
With proficient English and Portuguese language skills, Brueckner seeks a country where he can reside without the looming threat of extradition. Potential destinations without extradition treaties with the UK include the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Cuba, and Vietnam. Similarly, countries without such agreements with Germany include the Maldives, Montenegro, Indonesia, and Morocco, although Brueckner’s final relocation remains uncertain.