During a police interview following her arrest at Bristol Airport, a woman accused of stalking the family of missing Madeleine McCann made a startling claim that her father had asked her if she believed she was purchased from Kate and Gerry McCann. Julia Wandelt, 24, was questioned in Leicester after arriving from Poland on a Ryanair flight. The jury at Leicester Crown Court heard excerpts from her police interviews, during which she mostly responded with “no comment” but revealed the theory about her parentage when prompted by an officer.
Wandelt refused to answer questions about her contact with the McCann family, her evidence of being Madeleine, or visiting their home, until she demanded a DNA test. She expressed frustration at the lack of attention to her evidence and questioned why her DNA had not been tested when others’ had. She also mentioned feeling saddened by Kate McCann’s statement and disputed media reports about her.
Madeleine McCann disappeared in 2007 while her parents were dining in Portugal, leaving her in a holiday apartment with her siblings. Wandelt faces charges of stalking the McCann family, allegedly visiting their home, and sending various forms of communication to them between June 2022 and February 2025. The trial is ongoing.