Madeleine McCann: Case could suffer fresh blow outlined by investigator

Such a delay would ensure lead suspect Christian Brueckner is already out of prison.

He is currently behind bars serving a seven-year sentence for raping an American pensioner in Portugal in 2005.

Wolters said: “The investigation into the Maddie case will take as long as is necessary.

“If necessary, beyond a possible release of the accused.”

He added: “There is no contact with the McCann family.

Wolters claimed there was “strong” evidence against Brueckner in June 2020.

He also suggested Madeleine was dead but later conceded there was no evidence to support his theory.

When asked about a recent three-day search conducted at a reservoir just 30miles from Praia da Luz, Wolters said: “We do not comment on speculation.”

The announcement comes as a blow to parents Kate and Gerry.

The family were hoping the authorities’ latest decision to search a Portuguese reservoir could reveal more answers to their daughter’s disappearance.

Madeleine vanished at the age of three during a family holiday to the popular Portuguese resort in 2007.

Brueckner has denied any involvement in McCann’s abduction.

However, he was quizzed as a witness in the case by German police in 2013.

In a letter sent to a friend last month, the 45-year-old accused police of “attempting to create a monster”.

Brueckner added: “I got told a long time ago that the prosecutor’s office was closing the Maddie case because there is not even the smallest evidence.”

No suspects have ever been charged in connection with her disappearance