The Madeleine McCann Disappearance — A Timeline of What We Know and a New Suspect

A man in prison could potentially be associated with Madeleine McCann's disappearance, according to London's Metropolitan Police. The authorities issued a statement surrounding the still-unsolved 2007 disappearance of then three-year-old McCann.

No name was released, but a physical description of the man was included in the press release. He's currently imprisoned in Germany, so U.K. authorities are working together with the German police.

"This man is white and in 2007 is believed to have had short blond hair, possibly fair. He was about 6ft in height with a slim build. He is 43-years-old, but in 2007 may have looked between 25 to early 30s," the statement read. "We have established that he lived on and off in the Algarve between 1995 and 2007. He is connected to the area of Praia da Luz and surrounding regions, and spent some short spells in Germany."

It also asks for anyone with knowledge of a "1993 British Jaguar, model XJR 6" van with German license plates to come forward. "This car is believed to have been in the Praia da Luz and surrounding areas in 2006 and 2007," the statement explained. "The car was originally registered in the suspect's name. On 4 May 2007, the day after Madeleine's disappearance, the car was re-registered to someone else in Germany."

So what do we know about Madeleine McCann's disappearance already? Here's a comprehensive timeline of her disappearance and the time after.

May 3, 2007 - McCann's family was vacationing in Praia da Luz, Portugal in 2007. Her parents left McCann and her siblings to sleep in their rented vacation property, which was part of a resort. On the resort property, they met with other couples for drinks. The McCanns, and their friends, claim someone went to check on the children every so often. After multiple check-ins, McCann was missing from her bed. The events leading up to McCann's disappearance are mapped in Netflix documentary series The Disappearance of Madeleine McCann.

May - September 2007 A giant search ensued, which became an international media phenomenon. Suspicions then turned to McCann's parents. The parents stayed in Praia da Luz until September 9, then flew back to England with their other two children, according to the Irish Times.

2008 - With the McCann parents as official "arguidos," or suspects, the investigation into McCann's disappearance is suspended by Portuguese police.

2011 - The Scotland Yard launches another investigation into McCann's disappearance. McCann's mother, Kate McCann, also publishes a book about McCann this year titled Madeleine: Our Daughter's Disappearance and the Continuing Search For Her.

2014-2015 - Both Scotland Yard police and Portuguese police investigate new leads. With no concrete evidence, the Scotland yard cuts the team of detectives searching for McCann to four people.

2020 - A new suspect is identified in McCann's disappearance. The London Metropolitan Police ask for the public's help to identify a car. The McCann family has already commented on the possibility of finding the man who took their daughter.

A family spokesperson, Clarence Mitchell, told BBC radio that "Kate and Gerry do feel it's potentially very significant," he added. "This is another important chapter in the search for their daughter."