Kate and Gerry McCann's sad update on missing daughter Madeleine days before police find evidence ‘she is dead’

Warning: This article contains discussion of child abuse which some readers may find distressing.

Kate and Gerry McCann issued a tragic update on their missing daughter, Madeleine McCann, just a matter of days before it was announced police had found a hard drive that 'contains evidence she is dead'.

It's been 18 years since Madeleine, who was just three at the time, disappeared while enjoying a holiday with her family in Portugal back in 2007.

After the news broke of her disappearance, millions have been invested into the investigation into Madeleine's whereabouts, which has often been branded the 'most reported on missing person's case in modern history'.

And the latest update in the tragic case has detailed a hard drive which was uncovered at a disused factory bought by the prime suspect in the investigation, which reportedly contains evidence she is dead.

However, just days before the latest news was released, the youngster's parents posted on the official Find Madeleine website.

In a post, which was released over the weekend (3 May), they wrote: "As we arrive at the 18th anniversary of Madeleine’s abduction, we’d like to thank our faithful supporters once again for standing by us and never forgetting about Madeleine.

"The years appear to be passing even more quickly and whilst we have no significant news to share, our determination to 'leave no stone unturned' is unwavering. We will do our utmost to achieve this."

Kate and Gerry also took the opportunity to highlight the fact that May is also the month which includes International Missing Children’s Day (25 May), adding: "We continue to remember all missing children and their families, both here in the UK and abroad, thinking especially of all the children displaced from their homes & families in Ukraine & Gaza at this time.

"We’re very grateful to the UK Charity, Missing People for their ongoing, invaluable work, & to all organisations, charities and police forces who remain committed, despite many challenges and limited resources, to finding & bringing home the many missing and abducted children."

It's been 18 years since three-year-old Madeleine McCann went missing while on holiday in Portugal (PA)

The parents rounded off the update sharing that May is also the month of Madeleine’s birthday - her 22nd this year.

"No matter how near or far she is, she continues to be right here with us, every day, but especially on her special day," the pair signed off. "We continue to 'celebrate' her as the very beautiful and unique person she is.

"We miss her."

According to The Telegraph, German prosecutors believe main suspect, Christian Brueckner, killed the three-year-old after she vanished during the family holiday.

The Sun claims that a hard drive was found at a disused factory, owned by Brueckner, which reportedly 'contains evidence she is dead'.

Investigators in the case also discovered an insurance document which they say proves Brueckner was at a music festival where he is said to have confessed to being behind her death.

Christian Brueckner is the lead suspect in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann (Handout/Getty Images)

The Sun additionally reports that masks, unlicensed guns and ammunition, children’s toys, and bikes were found at Brueckner's hideaway, despite him having no children himself, while as many as 75 children's swimming costumes were also discovered.

It is reported that German police also found USB sticks and memory cards.

The outlet reports that in one, Brueckner 'described drugging a mother and daughter outside a nursery school'.

Child abuse images of four and five-year-old girls were also said to have been found during the searches.

Skype conversations were found, including one in which he allegedly said he wanted to 'capture something small and use it for days'.

Brueckner is currently behind bars for the 2005 rape of an American woman in Praia da Luz but was acquitted of all of these claims last year and could be released as early as September 2025, unless prosecutors are able to prove that he is the man who killed Madeleine all those years ago.

The claims will air in full in a Channel 4 documentary - titled Madeleine McCann: The Unseen Evidence - set to be released on Wednesday night (7 May).