Disturbing Twist in Madeleine McCann Case: Woman Claiming to be Missing Toddler on Trial for Stalking Parents, Bombarding Them with Emails and Calls
- A 24-year-old Polish woman, Julia Wandelt, is accused of stalking Kate and Gerry McCann, claiming to be their missing daughter Madeleine.
- Wandelt allegedly sent altered images to Madeleine’s younger sister to “persuade” her that they were related and even showed up at the McCanns’ home address.
- The prosecutor stated that there is “unequivocal scientific evidence” that Wandelt is not Madeleine McCann, despite her claims of having memories of the missing child’s childhood and disappearance.
In a shocking turn of events, a Polish woman who claims to be Madeleine McCann, the British toddler who mysteriously vanished in 2007, is on trial for stalking the missing child’s parents, Kate and Gerry McCann.
Julia Wandelt, 24, has been accused of bombarding the McCanns with emails and calls, as well as showing up at their home address, in an attempt to convince them that she is their long-lost daughter. However, prosecutor Michael Duck emphasized that there is “unequivocal scientific evidence” that Wandelt is not related to the McCann family.
“Can we, at this very early stage in the trial, make this position clear, that Julia Wandelt is not Madeleine McCann?” Duck asked, pointing out that Wandelt’s age at the time of Madeleine’s disappearance does not match the missing child’s age.
Wandelt, who was arrested at Bristol Airport in February 2025, allegedly claimed to have memories of Madeleine’s childhood and disappearance, stating that she was kidnapped and taken to Poland. The court heard that she sent “altered” images to Madeleine’s younger sister to “persuade” her that they were related.
In a disturbing display of obsession, Wandelt called Kate McCann 60 times in a single day, the court was told. This is not the first time Wandelt has made outlandish claims; she has previously claimed to be two other missing girls, Inga Gehricke and Acacia Bishop.
As the trial continues, the McCann family’s nightmare is far from over. “One of many tragic consequences for Madeleine’s parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, has been their constant inability to escape the glare of publicity that came with that tragedy,” Duck said, highlighting the family’s enduring agony.