A woman fixated on the disappearance of Madeleine McCann has been found guilty of a relentless campaign of harassment against the child’s parents, Kate and Gerry McCann. The case, unfolding over a grueling five-week trial, revealed a disturbing obsession fueled by false memories and a desperate search for identity.
Julia Wandelt, the Polish national at the center of the ordeal, repeatedly contacted the McCanns, appearing at their home and sending a barrage of messages pleading for a DNA test. She claimed to have recovered memories, through hypnosis, of being Madeleine herself – memories of a life with the McCanns, of playing with their son, Sean, and of a terrifying abduction.
The McCanns, already burdened by years of anguish and speculation surrounding their daughter’s disappearance in 2007, were forced to relive their trauma in court. They testified from behind a screen, shielding themselves from directly facing their tormentor, a testament to the profound distress Wandelt inflicted.
During her testimony, Wandelt insisted she didn’t believe her contact was unwanted, stating she was simply a person searching for her family. Even acknowledging a 50/50 chance she wasn’t Madeleine, she continued to pursue the McCanns, clinging to fragmented recollections of being “hugged” and taken to Poland.
The court heard how Wandelt first came to the attention of authorities after traveling to the UK and attending an annual vigil marking the anniversary of Madeleine’s disappearance. Her initial arrest followed, with charges citing a “substantial adverse effect” on the McCanns’ lives.
A DNA test in 2023 definitively proved Wandelt was 100% Polish, shattering her claims of being Madeleine McCann. Yet, she persisted in her narrative, maintaining memories of a childhood she never lived and a family she never knew.
The judge, recognizing the significant risk Wandelt poses, issued a restraining order following the guilty verdict. The courtroom witnessed a raw display of emotion as Wandelt gasped at the outcome, while her companion wept, their hands clasped before the pronouncement.
The case underscores the enduring pain of Madeleine McCann’s unsolved disappearance and the devastating impact of obsessive behavior on those left behind. It’s a stark reminder of the enduring mystery and the profound grief that continues to haunt the McCanns after nearly two decades.
