The papers were silent for the years preceding HCW’s announcement in 2020 when much of the investigative work was being carried out so I wouldn’t take media silence to mean a lack of progress, don’t worry 
We knew there were still lines of inquiry actively being followed we just didn't have a clue what they might have been.
The indiscretion which released Brueckner's name in the press might actually have helped rather than hindered.
I think at an earlier stage it could have been disastrous as I think was the intent.
But the investigation into Brueckner was well established and the circumstantial evidence apparently strong enough to weather the storm allowing investigators to use the leak to their best advantage by using it to request public assistance.
Apparently there was a good public response to the appeal, some of which might have fleshed out evidence already known to the investigation. I think one of the issues sceptics may have is their total lack of knowledge or the slightest understanding of what of what circumstantial evidence is and the more of it there is, the stronger the case against the accused will be.