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A woman who claimed to be Madeleine McCann has been arrested and charged with stalking the missing girl’s family. Julia Wandel, also known as Julia Wandelt or Julia Wendell, was arrested at an airport in Bristol, according to The Guardian. She has been charged with stalking four members of the McCann family – parents Gerry and Kate, and twin siblings Sean and Amelie – throughout 2024 and into 2025. Wandel is also alleged to have made unwanted and unsolicited visits to their home twice, in May and December of last year.
The charges state that the alleged contact, which came in the form of phone calls, voicemails, a letter, and WhatsApp and Instagram messages, "had a substantial adverse effect" on the family.
Wandel’s claims of being Madeleine McCann were met with widespread media attention and scrutiny. In 2023, she began posting numerous pieces of "evidence" to social media, claiming she believed she might be the missing girl. Her "proof" revolved around physical resemblance, including a rare eye disorder, similar dimples, and freckles, and similar gaps in her teeth.
However, a DNA test confirmed that Wandel was not the missing girl. The test showed that she has near 100% Polish heritage, with no evidence of British or even German ancestry.
Polish police disputed Wandel’s claims, and her own parents spoke out about her campaign, saying they were "devastated" by her claims and the worldwide media attention it garnered.
Wandel appeared in court on Friday to face her charges and did not enter a plea. She will appear for a full plea hearing on April 7 and will remain in custody.
Conclusion:
The case of Madeleine McCann’s disappearance remains one of the most enduring and mysterious unsolved cases of all time. The latest development in this saga is a sobering reminder of the devastating impact that false claims and stalking can have on a family.
FAQs:
- Who is Julia Wandel?
- A woman who claimed to be Madeleine McCann and has been charged with stalking her family.
- What are the charges against Julia Wandel?
- She has been charged with stalking four members of the McCann family, including parents Gerry and Kate, and twin siblings Sean and Amelie, throughout 2024 and into 2025.
- What is the outcome of the DNA test?
- The DNA test confirmed that Wandel was not the missing girl, showing that she has near 100% Polish heritage, with no evidence of British or even German ancestry.
- What is the current status of the case?
- Wandel appeared in court on Friday to face her charges and did not enter a plea. She will appear for a full plea hearing on April 7 and will remain in custody.
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