A court proceeding revealed that a woman, Julia Wandelt, from Lubin, Poland, allegedly believed she was Madeleine McCann, the missing British girl who disappeared in Portugal in 2007. Wandelt, 24, along with Karen Spragg, 61, of Caerau, Cardiff, is facing trial in the UK for reportedly stalking Madeleine’s parents, Kate and Gerry McCann.
During the trial at Leicester Crown Court, it was disclosed that Wandelt genuinely believed she was Madeleine McCann, which originated from a visit to a psychologist and eventually led her to contact Operation Grange investigators claiming her possible identity. Wandelt disclosed her struggles with mental health issues, self-harm, and frequent therapy sessions during her upbringing.
In the courtroom, Wandelt acknowledged that she began questioning her identity after interactions with a female therapist, prompting her to probe her parents about her past and potential undisclosed information. This uncertainty about her identity culminated in her firm belief that she was Madeleine McCann, leading her to message investigative authorities expressing her doubts.
When asked by her barrister if she still had doubts about her identity, Wandelt confirmed that she did. The court reviewed a message she sent to investigators in June 2022, where she cited physical similarities to Madeleine, including a mark on her eye, and contacted various law enforcement agencies regarding her suspicions.
Wandelt, along with Spragg, has denied the accusations of stalking from June 2022 to February 2025. The trial is ongoing.