A suspected stalker who asserted to be the missing girl was ruled out after a confidential DNA test proved conclusively she was not the missing girl, investigators stated in court.
Stalking Allegations Against McCann Family
Julia Wandelt, twenty-four, faces charges for a campaign of harassment against the family of Madeleine, who disappeared from a Portuguese resort in Portugal in 2007 as a three-year-old.
The Polish citizen overwhelmed Kate and Gerry McCann and their older offspring, Sean and Amelie, with hundreds of calls, messages, voicemails and letters over a period spanning 2022 to this year, and appeared at their home requesting a DNA test, the court was earlier informed.
Official Statements
Providing testimony on Tuesday, the lead detective on Operation Grange, explained he had acted outside normal guidelines to test Wandelt “with the aim she may stop her actions towards the McCann family”.
The senior officer said 13 people had previously claimed to be the missing girl but that: “We would not take DNA only if convinced that person was Madeleine because I aimed to prevent setting a precedent.
“If it got out in the media I had taken DNA from someone probably not to be Madeleine, I was concerned I would have had numerous individuals coming forward saying ‘I’m Madeleine’.
“I genuinely have major concerns about contacting the family to say I plan to take DNA from an individual – that could have built up their expectations. It could have been quite emotionally damaging and difficult for the family.”
Forensic Analysis
He said the police had earlier determined Wandelt not to be Madeleine due to no physical similarity and that she was older by two years than the child. But, he said, after finding out Leicester police were going to take into custody Wandelt on criminal accusations, he “made the decision that the DNA would be taken when she was apprehended”.
He stated: “A comparison took place. It conclusively proved that Julia Wandelt is not Madeleine McCann.”
Jury Hearings
Jurors learned that in April this year, Cranwell visited Wandelt in custody and stated to her that her DNA had been matched against Madeleine’s and that the profiles did not match. The court learned he told Wandelt during the visit: “You are not Madeleine McCann.”
Testimony indicated that during their conversation, Wandelt said: “Do you really want to find Madeleine?”, and the detective told the jury he answered: “Yes.”
He said despite the test, he believed Wandelt “would suggest we have interfered with the sample”, remarking: “It was possible she would never accept she is not Madeleine notwithstanding scientific proof.”
Emotional Distress
During previous hearings, the court heard how the family were left terrified and upset by their “disturbing” and “deeply disturbing” interactions with Wandelt and the other accused Karen Spragg, 61, from Cardiff, as the pair attempted to demand a DNA test.
Jurors heard how both women made “increasingly bizarre plans” to collect Kate McCann’s DNA, which included rummaging in the McCanns’ bins and stealing utensils from restaurants that the McCanns dined at.
Wandelt and Spragg both deny one count of stalking. The case remains active.
