Madeleine McCann's parents deny receiving letter about proof of her death
The parents of missing British girl Madeleine McCann have denied reports they have received a letter from German authorities regarding proof that their daughter is dead.
In a rare statement published on the Find Madeleine website and shared to its 500,000 followers on Facebook, Kate and Gerry McCann said "unsubstantiated stories" had caused "unnecessary anxiety to friends and family".
READ MORE: Madeleine McCann: Prosecutors say they have new evidence in cold case
They said they would not "give a running commentary on the investigation" and that any important updates would be released by the police.
British girl Madeleine McCann vanished from the resort town of Praia da Luz in Portugal in May 2007, while on holiday with her family. AAP
A file photo from July 8, 2014, in which Kate and Gerry McCann, the parents of missing British girl Madeleine McCann, talk to the media outside a court in Lisbon. AP
"The widely reported news that we have a received a letter from the German authorities that states there is evidence or proof that Madeleine is dead is false. Like many unsubstantiated stories in the media, this has caused unnecessary anxiety to friends and family and once again disrupted our lives," the McCanns said in the statement.
"Any recent comments attributed in the media have not come from us unless they have been posted on our website."
The statement came the day after German prosecutor Hans Christian Wolters reportedly told UK tabloid The Mirror he had "re-established contact with the McCann family in writing" to inform them Madeleine was dead.
Mr Wolters and his team are investigating Christian Brückner a 43-year-old German currently in jail for drug-dealing. They believe he is responsible for abducting Madeleine from a Portuguese hotel in 2007, and for her possible murder. He was identified as a suspect earlier this month.
Portuguese sources have named the suspect as Christian Brückner. Supplied
Mr Wolters had told media in recent weeks that prosecutors assumed Madeleine was dead.
Meanwhile Mr Bruckner's lawyer, Friedrich Fulscher, told The Times this week that his client is "remaining silent" on the allegations.
READ MORE: German Madeleine McCann murder suspect Christian Brückner 'won't answer questions'
The search for Madeleine, who was three when she disappeared, has now been running for 13 years.
What happened to Madeleine? 10-part true crime podcast investigation
Share a tip-off, video or photo with us
