Julia Wandelt, also known as Julia Faustyna and Julia Wendell, has become widely recognized for her claim that she could be Madeleine McCann, the British girl who disappeared from a vacation apartment in Praia da Luz, Portugal, in 2007. At the time of her disappearance, Madeleine was just three years old, asleep with her twin siblings, Sean and Amelie, while her parents dined at a nearby restaurant.
Since then, Madeleine’s case has become one of the most famous missing-person cases in modern history, with ongoing investigations and numerous theories about her fate. However, despite extensive efforts, Madeleine’s whereabouts remain unknown, and the case continues to draw global attention.
Wandelt first came into the spotlight with her claims in 2023, pointing to physical similarities with Madeleine, such as a rare eye condition called coloboma. This condition is characterized by a gap or hole in the iris and is an uncommon trait, which Wandelt suggested could link her to the missing girl.
Along with this, she recounted vague memories of an abduction during her childhood, which she believed could be connected to Madeleine’s disappearance. Wandelt even attended a prayer vigil for Madeleine, hoping to communicate directly with her parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, and asking for their cooperation in conducting a DNA test to confirm or deny her claims.
Frustrated by the lack of response from the McCanns, Wandelt made public statements, asserting that she had never stopped believing she was Madeleine McCann. She vehemently denied accusations that she was “crazy” or lying, despite facing skepticism and ridicule from some quarters.
In an interview on the “Break The Ice” podcast, Wandelt spoke about her memories of being abducted, describing being taken and placed into a car, where she recalls someone using a syringe on her. She mentioned being handed over to a man with dark hair and tanned skin, though she couldn’t recall his face. These fragmented memories have fueled her determination to prove that she might be Madeleine.
To further substantiate her claims, Wandelt underwent DNA testing during an appearance on the Dr. Phil show in 2023. Her representative, Dr. Fia Johansson, who is a self-described psychic medium, revealed the results, which showed that Wandelt is genetically Polish, with small traces of Lithuanian and Russian ancestry.
These findings directly contradicted her belief that she could be Madeleine McCann, who was born in the United Kingdom. However, despite this conclusive evidence, Wandelt remained resolute in her assertions, insisting that something deeper was at play.
Wandelt’s efforts to contact the McCanns have reportedly gone unanswered, adding to her sense of frustration. She has also claimed that her Polish parents have refused to undergo DNA testing. Dr. Johansson, her representative, has suggested that Wandelt’s mother is likely her biological parent, though questions surrounding her father’s identity remain unresolved. Wandelt has taken her case directly to Kate and Gerry McCann, urging them to conduct a DNA test, hoping for a definitive answer to her questions.
In a Facebook post, Wandelt shared an exchange with Gerry McCann, who reportedly dismissed her claims and refused to engage further on the matter. Despite presenting her findings and DNA results, Wandelt’s efforts to convince the McCanns were met with skepticism. According to reports, Gerry McCann allegedly expressed that authorities were already aware of the situation, and there was no need for further discussion.
Undeterred, Wandelt has claimed that a respected forensic DNA expert, Dr. Monte Miller, reviewed her DNA profile alongside Madeleine’s and concluded that there could be a potential familial connection between them.
Dr. Miller, who has a background in genetics and forensic analysis, reportedly stated that Madeleine’s DNA profile includes genetic markers from at least three closely related individuals, and Wandelt’s DNA profile showed a partial match with Madeleine’s. This, Dr. Miller argued, suggests a potential sibling or parent-child relationship between Wandelt and the McCanns.
Julia Wandelt further speculated that the DNA results were inconclusive because Madeleine’s profile may have been influenced by contributions from multiple relatives, which would explain the partial match. She also pointed out that Kate McCann had once mentioned that all three of her children—Madeleine, Sean, and Amelie—shared a single toothbrush, which she believed could be significant in understanding the genetic link.
Based on Dr. Miller’s analysis, Wandelt believes that the expert’s opinion strongly supports her theory of a familial connection to the McCanns. She continues to press for further investigation, calling on both the authorities and the McCanns to conduct additional DNA tests in the hope of uncovering the truth.
Despite the controversy and skepticism surrounding her claims, Wandelt remains determined to pursue answers. She maintains that the public and the authorities should take her allegations seriously and that the truth about Madeleine’s disappearance might still be hidden. Wandelt is calling for action, hoping that her story will prompt further inquiries into the case, which has captivated the world for more than 16 years.
