A Polish woman, Julia Wandelt, also known as Julia Faustyna or Julia Wendell, has reignited the global conversation about the 2007 disappearance of British toddler Madeleine McCann.
Wandelt claims that she might be Madeleine, the child at the center of one of the most reported missing persons cases in history, and has taken to social media to share her story.
Her Instagram account, under the handle @iammadeleinemccann, showcases photos and personal anecdotes that she believes draw significant similarities between herself and the missing child.
Wandelt highlights physical traits such as a unique eye mark and certain facial features, along with fragmented childhood memories she feels align with Madeleine’s known history.
The 21-year-old alleges she has reached out to Madeleine’s parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, asking them to participate in a DNA test to verify her claims.
Despite her efforts, she claims that the McCanns have not responded, leaving her to pursue other means of uncovering her origins.
In her search for answers, Wandelt underwent DNA testing with the support of her representative, Dr. Fia Johansson, a psychic medium.
Dr. Johansson revealed the results last year, stating that Wandelt’s DNA shows she is “100 percent from Poland,” with small traces of Lithuanian and Russian ancestry.
“She is absolutely 100 percent from Poland,” Dr. Johansson shared, seemingly debunking Wandelt’s assertions of being connected to the McCanns.
Wandelt, however, remains firm in her belief and continues to recount memories of being taken and abused as a child, describing harrowing details of her alleged abduction.
Speaking on the Break The Ice podcast, she recalled being injected with an unknown substance and handed over to a man with dark hair and tanned skin.
Wandelt also claims she has a scar on her right cheek, which she says matches one that Madeleine McCann had before her disappearance.
The Polish woman has faced significant resistance from those she identifies as her parents in Poland, who have refused to take a DNA test.
“They know I’m their child,” Wandelt stated in response to their refusal, reiterating her conviction that her true identity lies elsewhere.
Wandelt has continued to share updates on social media, engaging with followers who question her claims and the actions of her family and representatives.
When asked why she hasn’t reattempted DNA tests with her family, Wandelt replied on Instagram Stories, “All of them refuse to do DNA test.”
Dr. Johansson has been vocal in asserting that Wandelt’s mother is indeed her biological mother, though she suggested there may be uncertainties surrounding her paternal lineage.
The psychic also reviewed nearly 500 pages of Wandelt’s medical records, documenting a traumatic skull fracture at age eight that left her unable to walk or speak for over a year.
As Wandelt’s claims gain traction, the McCann family has remained silent, with no public acknowledgment of her allegations or requests for testing.
A spokesperson for the family stated via the Official Find Madeleine Campaign, “There isn’t anything to report at this time. If and when there is, it will come from The Metropolitan Police.”
Wandelt’s story has reignited global interest in Madeleine McCann’s case, prompting debates about memory, trauma, and the lengths people go to uncover personal truths.
Despite her DNA results showing no link to Madeleine, Wandelt’s claims underscore the profound emotional weight of unresolved disappearances and the enduring search for closure.
For now, the search for Madeleine McCann continues, with her family and authorities holding onto hope that the mystery of her disappearance will one day be solved.