Julia Wandelt, claiming to be Madeleine McCann, faced scrutiny after DNA tests disproved her assertions. Despite her arrest for harassment against the McCanns, she continued to pursue a connection with them through social media. Wandelt’s obsession stemmed from shared physical traits and traumatic past experiences. However, her claims were dismissed by Polish authorities, who noted her psychiatric issues and her birth predating McCann’s disappearance. The ongoing investigation into McCann’s case still lacks conclusive evidence against any suspects.
The Unraveling of Julia Wandelt’s Claims
Julia Wandelt, also known by her aliases Julia Wendel and Julia Faustyna, attempted to convince the public that she was Madeleine McCann, who vanished at just three years old. Despite her fervent claims, scientific examinations have consistently disproven her assertions. In February 2023, she gained attention on social media by sharing manipulated photos and unsettling physical comparisons, asserting that she was the British girl who disappeared during a family holiday in Portugal in 2007. Even after an initial DNA test categorically debunked her claims, the 23-year-old remained adamant, relentlessly pursuing a connection with McCann’s parents.
The Arrest and Ongoing Controversy
Far from the location of Madeleine’s disappearance, the situation took a dramatic turn on February 19, 2025, when Wandelt was apprehended by British authorities at Bristol Airport. Witnesses were left astonished as the arrest occurred around 8 p.m. Local officials confirmed the incident, which was widely reported in the media. The Polish woman faced accusations of harassment directed at Kate and Gerry McCann, and she was accompanied by a friend in her sixties, who was also detained. It appears that justice is finally stepping in to halt the actions of the individual who had dubbed herself the “fake Maddie.”
At 20 years old, Wandelt began questioning her identity after noticing certain physical traits she shared with McCann, including eye color, dimples, and a matching birthmark. Her suspicions grew when she discovered that a composite sketch of a suspect in the McCann case bore a resemblance to a man she alleged had assaulted her in her youth. During an interview with BBC’s Marianna Spring, who specializes in misinformation, Wandelt recounted her history of sexual abuse and memory loss, explaining how these experiences contributed to her doubts about her own past.
Despite being arrested on charges of stalking and harassment against the McCanns, Wandelt continued to reach out to the couple. Her obsession led her to establish an Instagram account, @IAmMadeleineMcCann, where she publicly pleaded for a DNA test. However, the results from initial analyses in 2023 confirmed her Polish heritage, effectively ruling out any familial link to the McCann family. At one point, she expressed regret over the entire situation, indicating a potential acceptance of reality.
Yet, rather than stepping back, Wandelt persisted in publishing new purported genetic analyses, claiming they provided stronger evidence of a British ancestry. She asserted that a so-called “global expert” had identified elements supporting the notion that Gerry McCann could be her biological father. With these claims, she renewed her plea for a DNA test and increased her media presence, notably appearing on the American show Dr. Phil. Nevertheless, Polish authorities quickly dismissed her assertions, while her family disclosed that she had psychiatric disorders and, crucially, that she was born two years before Madeleine’s disappearance.
Meanwhile, the case of Madeleine McCann continues to linger in the public consciousness. Christian Brueckner, a German national previously tried for various sex crimes committed in Portugal between 2000 and 2017, was once viewed as a potential suspect in her disappearance. However, despite extensive investigations and ongoing suspicions, authorities have yet to gather sufficient evidence to charge him in connection to the case. As of now, he remains a person of interest without any compelling evidence to implicate him.