A woman facing accusations of stalking the family of Madeleine McCann declined to answer numerous questions from law enforcement officers during her police interview.
Julia Wandelt, a 24-year-old Polish woman, is currently on trial for claiming to be the missing girl and allegedly stalking Maddie’s parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, along with their other children, Sean and Amelie.
During the trial at Leicester Crown Court, jurors listened to Wandelt’s police interview where she chose not to respond to inquiries regarding her initial contact with the McCann family, the evidence supporting her identity as Madeleine, and whether she had visited the McCann family residence. However, she did break her silence when she requested a DNA test, expressing frustration over the handling of her evidence by the authorities.
In a turn of events, Wandelt reacted to a statement from Kate McCann, expressing her regret for causing distress and emphasizing her desire to prove her identity through a DNA test. She also mentioned her father’s comments that fueled her belief in being the missing Maddie.
Prosecutors presented evidence of text messages and voicemails allegedly sent by Wandelt to Kate McCann, pleading for acknowledgment and claiming a connection to the missing child. The court also heard recordings of Wandelt leaving emotional messages for Mrs. McCann, insisting on the possibility of being Madeleine and seeking assistance.
Forensic analysis revealed that Wandelt’s DNA did not match Madeleine McCann’s DNA profile or that of her parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, refuting Wandelt’s claims of being their biological child. She is facing charges of stalking the McCann family and sending various forms of communication to them between June 2022 and February 2025.
The trial is ongoing, with Wandelt and another individual facing charges related to the alleged stalking incidents.