The disappearance of Madeleine McCann in 2007 remains one of the world’s most haunting mysteries — and now, in a shocking twist, the case has taken an unexpected turn that has left both investigators and the public in disbelief.

Rebecca K, a 39-year-old former German FBI agent, has come forward to reveal that she was the mysterious donor who paid the £1,300 fine owed by Christian Brueckner — the man long considered the prime suspect in Madeleine’s disappearance. Her extraordinary decision means Brueckner, a convicted rapist and paedophile, could be released from prison as early as this week, months ahead of his expected release date in January.

Her reason?

“I felt sorry for him,” she confessed.

Rebecca K admitted that she knew about Brueckner’s horrific past — his record of child abuse, sexual assault, document forgery, and violent behavior. Yet she claimed she feared that his human rights were being violated during his time in custody.

“I didn’t free him because I think he’s innocent,” she said. “I know who he is, and I know what he’s done. But I couldn’t shake the feeling that the system was failing to treat him fairly. Everyone deserves basic rights, even him.”

Her words have ignited a firestorm of outrage. Families of victims, campaigners, and members of the public are horrified that Brueckner — who has long been at the center of the Madeleine McCann investigation — could now walk free earlier than expected.

Authorities fear that Brueckner, once released, could disappear into hiding, making it nearly impossible for prosecutors to build their case against him. “He is not a man who will stay put,” one investigator warned. “If he vanishes, Madeleine’s family may never see justice.”

Rebecca K’s decision is all the more baffling given her past role. She once worked covertly on the very team tasked with monitoring Brueckner, before a bitter fallout with her colleagues ended her career. Some insiders suggest that her choice to step in now is less about Brueckner’s rights and more about her own complicated feelings toward the justice system that pushed her aside.

Legal experts warn that the fine she paid — which related to older charges of assault, forgery, and drunkenness — has effectively “bought” Brueckner’s freedom months early. And while she insists her actions were guided by principle, many see them as a catastrophic betrayal of Madeleine McCann’s memory.

Public opinion is sharply divided. Some argue that Rebecca K acted out of misplaced compassion; others accuse her of enabling a dangerous criminal to slip further from justice. On social media, one furious user wrote:

“She didn’t just feel sorry for him. She betrayed every child he’s ever hurt, and every parent still waiting for answers.”

For Kate and Gerry McCann, who have endured 18 years of unanswered questions, the news is a fresh wound. Every move in the case is magnified by the weight of time lost — and now, the man they’ve been told is most likely responsible for their daughter’s disappearance may soon have the freedom to vanish again.

The chilling reality remains: Madeleine McCann has never been found. And the woman who once helped investigate her suspected abductor has now play…