Polish Woman Arrested for Allegedly Stalking McCann Family

Bristol, England - A 23-year-old Polish woman, identified as Julia Wandelt, has been arrested at Bristol Airport for allegedly stalking Kate and Gerry McCann, the parents of missing child Madeleine McCann. The young woman has claimed for over two years that she is actually Madeleine, who disappeared during a family vacation in Portugal in 2007.

Authorities detained Wandelt on Wednesday evening, following reports that she had been harassing the McCann family. The Daily Mail reported that she was flying to Bristol to meet a friend when she was taken into custody.

Madeleine McCann vanished on May 3, 2007, while on holiday with her family in Praia da Luz, Portugal. Her parents had left her and her siblings in their apartment while they dined nearby, checking on the children every half hour. When Kate McCann went to check on them at 10 p.m., she discovered that Madeleine was missing, with a window left open.

Wandelt first drew attention to herself in February 2023 after launching an Instagram account under the name "@IAmMadeleineMcCann." She asserted that she could prove her identity through a DNA test. However, it was later revealed that her DNA results confirmed her Polish heritage, which is inconsistent with Madeleine's background.

In an interview with the BBC, Wandelt later expressed regret for the distress her claims caused. Despite her previous apology, she recently resurfaced with renewed assertions, claiming to have new DNA test results that the McCanns allegedly refused to acknowledge.

The police found sufficient evidence to arrest Wandelt, who is now facing scrutiny for her actions. Alongside her, a woman of approximately 60 years old was also apprehended at the airport, though further details regarding her involvement remain unclear.

The case of Madeleine McCann has drawn international attention over the years, becoming one of the most high-profile missing person cases. Despite extensive investigations, her whereabouts remain unknown, and her disappearance continues to evoke strong emotions and theories from the public.