An individual accused of stalking and claiming to be Madeleine McCann expressed in court that she is not surprised by the authorities’ failure to locate the missing girl. Testifying today, Julia Wandelt, a 24-year-old Polish citizen from Lubin, alleged that the McCann family had been misled by the police regarding Madeleine’s case. Wandelt, accused of stalking Kate and Gerry McCann through emails, calls, and visits to their residence, expressed sympathy for the family, stating that her own search for her parents while in prison for eight months paralleled their quest for their missing child.
During her testimony at Leicester Crown Court, Wandelt conveyed her support for the McCanns and denied harboring any ill will towards them. She claimed that law enforcement showed disinterest in finding Madeleine and asserted that the parents were misled by the authorities. Wandelt explained that she reached out to Mr. McCann directly to highlight discrepancies in the investigation, believing that her own treatment by the police exemplified systemic flaws in handling cases.
Emotionally recounting her interactions with Amelie McCann and her tumultuous upbringing, Wandelt revealed her struggles with identity and trauma. She disclosed her efforts to seek help from various organizations before contacting the McCann family, emphasizing her desire for closure and self-discovery. Wandelt also shared personal experiences of abuse in her childhood, linking them to her belief that she could be Madeleine.
Despite facing backlash and threats, Wandelt maintained that her motivations were rooted in healing and understanding her past. She mentioned her attempts to undergo DNA testing to resolve doubts about her identity, an option her parents rejected. Wandelt raised questions about being excluded from the investigation into Madeleine’s disappearance despite presenting compelling reasons for her claims.
Wandelt, along with her co-defendant Karen Spragg, denied the charge of stalking between June 2022 and February this year. The trial will resume on Tuesday to further hear Wandelt’s testimony.
