A woman claiming to be Madeleine McCann has been charged with stalking against the missing girl’s family.
According to BBC, Julia Wandel, also known as Julia Wandelt, was arrested at Bristol Airport in Somerset, England, on Wednesday.
The 23-year-old appeared at Leicester Magistrates’ Court on Friday and was remanded in custody.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, in 2023, Wandel claimed to be Madeleine, and said her parents rarely talked about her childhood. She claimed they dismissed questions about her past. During the rare times they did talk about the past, she said their stories had inaccuracies.
Madeleine, 3 at the time, was vacationing with her family in Praia da Luz, Portugal, in May 2007 when she vanished from her hotel room. Her parents had been dining a short distance away on the resort property while she slept in the room with her siblings.
A DNA test later disproved Wandel’s allegations.
Court documents stated that Wandel is accused of sending messages, leaving voicemails, and visiting the McCanns’ home between January 3, 2024, and February 15, 2025. She allegedly showed up at the family’s Leicestershire residence twice—on May 2 and December 7. She also allegedly sent WhatsApp messages to Kate and Gerry McCann, as well as Instagram messages to Madeleine’s siblings.
Prosecutors stated that Wandel contacted the McCanns persistently since 2022, and tried to convince them she is their missing daughter becoming increasingly alarming.
Leicestershire Police also announced that a 60-year-old woman was at ewwated, alongside Wandel, for stalking.
Wandel is set to enter a plea at the city’s crown court on April 7.
Check back for updates.
Featured image: Julia Wendell/Instagram; Madeleine McCann/Family Handout]
