DNA proves alleged Madeleine McCann stalker not missing girl

Julia Wandelt has claimed to be missing Madeleine McCann (Elizabeth Cook/PA) Elizabeth Cook

DNA samples taken from a woman who claimed to be missing Madeleine McCann have "conclusively" proved she is not the missing girl, a court has heard. Julia Wandelt, aged 24 and from Poland, had her DNA tested after being arrested at Bristol Airport in February.

The results were revealed during Wandelt's stalking trial at Leicester Crown Court on Tuesday. She is accused of harassing Kate and Gerry McCann between June 2022 and February this year by sending emails, making phone calls and turning up at their home address.

Police Investigation Details

Detective Chief Inspector Mark Cranwell from Operation Grange, the ongoing Metropolitan Police investigation into Madeleine's 2007 disappearance from Portugal, told the court that 12 people have previously claimed to be the missing girl. However, their DNA samples were not taken because it could "set a precedent".

Cranwell explained his usual policy: "We would not take DNA unless we believed that person was Madeleine because I did not want to set a precedent. If it became known in the media I had taken DNA off an individual quite likely not to be Madeleine, I was concerned I would have had a lot of people coming forward saying 'I'm Madeleine'."

The detective said he had genuine concerns about approaching the McCann family regarding DNA testing. "It could have raised their hopes. It could have been quite emotionally damaging and difficult for the family," he told the jury.

Assessment and Decision

Cranwell's own assessment was that Wandelt was not Madeleine because her eye pigment was in a different place, she had different coloured irises and was two years older than the missing girl. Despite this, he made the exceptional decision to take her DNA "in hope she may stop her behaviour towards the McCann family".

He told the court: "It weighed heavily on my mind because this was against policy." The detective added there was concern that DNA testing would add to the "media frenzy" and the "spotlight on the McCann family".

Trial Evidence

In April, Cranwell visited Wandelt in custody and told her the DNA comparison results. "You are not Madeleine McCann," he informed her during the visit. When Wandelt asked: "Do you really want to find Madeleine?", Cranwell replied: "Yes."

The court heard that after Wandelt's initial claims, the McCann parents were asked to look at photographs of her. Gerry McCann responded by email saying he was "confident it's not Madeleine although some similarities", while Kate McCann replied: "Agreed."

Wandelt and her co-defendant Karen Spragg, aged 61 from Cardiff, both deny one count of stalking. The trial continues on Wednesday.

Sources used: "PA Media" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.