A court has heard that a woman from Lubin, Poland, named Julia Wandelt, who is on trial in the UK alongside Karen Spragg from Caerau, Cardiff, allegedly persisted in claiming to be missing British girl Madeleine McCann. Wandelt, aged 24, reportedly believed she was Madeleine and even contacted investigators from Operation Grange stating her doubts about her true identity.
During the trial at Leicester Crown Court, it was revealed that Wandelt’s belief in being Madeleine stemmed from her struggles with mental health issues and a history of self-harm. She mentioned that her visit to a psychologist triggered her questioning her identity and seeking answers from her family about potential hidden information.
Wandelt messaged investigators expressing her uncertainty about her identity, citing a facial mark she believed was similar to Madeleine’s. She reached out to various authorities, including Scotland Yard and Interpol, to share her thoughts. Wandelt and Spragg have both denied accusations of stalking Madeleine’s parents between June 2022 and February 2025.
Despite ongoing questioning of her identity, Wandelt maintains her belief that she could be Madeleine McCann. The trial is ongoing to further investigate the case.
