DNA results have confirmed that Julia Wandelt is not Madeleine McCann, ending the claims of the 24-year-old woman who had previously stated she was the missing child. The investigation continues as the McCann family faces harassment.
DNA test results have been released, putting an end to the claims made by 24-year-old Julia Wandelt, who had suggested that she might be Madeleine McCann, the missing daughter of Kate and Gerry McCann. The case has been a source of public intrigue for almost two decades, after Madeleine disappeared at the age of three while on holiday with her family in Praia da Luz, Portugal, in 2007.
Madeleine vanished from the family’s apartment while her parents, Kate and Gerry, were dining with friends at a nearby restaurant. When Kate checked on the children, she discovered Madeleine was gone. The disappearance sparked one of the most high-profile missing persons cases in history.
Wandelt’s Claim and Arrest
In 2022, Julia Wandelt, a Polish woman, began publicly claiming that she was the missing Madeleine McCann. She garnered attention by sharing photos and social media posts that she believed showed similarities between herself and the missing child. However, her claims were met with skepticism by both the public and the McCann family.
In February 2025, Wandelt was arrested along with another woman, Karen Spragg, for allegedly stalking the McCann family. As part of the investigation, Wandelt was asked to provide a DNA sample, which was later tested.
At a court trial on Tuesday, October 14, Detective Chief Inspector Mark Cranwell revealed that the results of the DNA test, which were made known to Wandelt in April while she was in Peterborough Prison, conclusively showed that Julia Wandelt is not Madeleine McCann.
DNA Test Results and the McCann Family’s Response
Cranwell explained that the decision to test Wandelt’s DNA was a unique one. Although investigators had previously denied DNA testing requests from other individuals claiming to be Madeleine, the DNA test was conducted in the hope that the results would stop Wandelt’s ongoing harassment of the McCann family.
The detective said:
“We would not take DNA unless we believed that person was Madeleine because I did not want to set a precedent. The decision to test was made to bring an end to her behavior towards the McCann family.”
Wandelt reportedly disputed the DNA test results when she was informed of them, but the outcome did not come as a surprise to Kate and Gerry McCann. The couple had previously issued a statement expressing their confidence that Wandelt was not their daughter after seeing a photo of her.
Continuing Harassment and Allegations
Despite the DNA results, Wandelt continued to pursue the McCann family, allegedly sending them messages, making calls, and even visiting their home. She also demanded a DNA test to prove she was Madeleine. The McCann family also reported receiving messages from a woman with a “Welsh-sounding” voice, who was later identified as Karen Spragg. Spragg, from Cardiff, Wales, is believed to have supported Wandelt’s claims and was reportedly in a relationship with her.
Both Julia Wandelt and Karen Spragg have denied the charges of harassment and stalking.
