Julia Wandelt, who claimed to be Madeleine McCann, was arrested with another woman for allegedly stalking someone.
The Polish woman is Julia Wandelt. She claimed to be Madeleine McCann last year. Remember Maddie, who went missing in Portugal? Julia’s claims went viral, but Kate and Gerry McCann, Madeleine’s parents, said Julia is not their daughter.
Julia created an Instagram account where she shared DNA results. She claimed they linked her to Gerry McCann, but other tests showed she is Polish. She said a “world expert” compared her DNA and supposedly matched it to crime scene DNA. She alleged the expert matched her eyes, teeth, and voice too.
Julia stated that her “source” supported her claims and believed Gerry McCann could be her father. This week, Julia posted an audio clip, saying she tried calling Gerry McCann. The man hung up quickly, saying it was the wrong number.
She once told the BBC about childhood abuse. She believed she was Madeleine after seeing sketches that showed suspects looking like her abuser. This made her suspicious about her past, and she said her parents dismissed her adoption questions.
Julia also said she lacked early photos and never saw her birth certificate. However, her parents provided evidence against her claims.
Madeleine McCann disappeared in 2007, and no one has been charged yet. Police thought Brueckner, a German, took her.
Here is a timeline of the key moments:
May 3, 2007: Kate found Madeleine missing at 10 PM. May 14, 2007: Robert Murat was named a suspect. August 31, 2007: The McCanns sued a newspaper that claimed they killed Madeleine. September 7, 2007: Kate and Gerry were named suspects. September 9, 2007: The parents returned to England with twins.
October 2, 2007: A detective was removed from the case after he criticized British police. July 21, 2009: Police dropped suspect status for some.
May 12, 2011: Scotland Yard reviewed the case. April 25, 2012: Police thought Madeleine could still be alive. July 4, 2013: Scotland Yard started a new investigation. October 24, 2013: Portuguese police reopened the case. November 27, 2013: Police wanted to work together.
October 28, 2015: Fewer officers worked on the case. March 11, 2017: Funding was given to continue the search. September 28, 2017: More money was granted for the probe. November 2017: The search moved to Bulgaria.
May 2018: Another round of funding happened. September 2018: More funding was requested. November 2018: More money was given. November 2018: Police re-examined a theory that Madeleine may have left to find her parents.
June 2019: Another round of funding happened, and police probed a clue with British officers. June 2020: A new suspect emerged: Christian Brueckner. April 2022: Brueckner was formally named a suspect. May 2023: Police searched a reservoir linked to Brueckner.