In a bizarre twist to one of Britain's most enduring missing person cases, a Polish woman who claimed to be Madeleine McCann is now facing a police investigation for alleged identity fraud.
Julia Wandelt, 21, from Poland, captured international attention earlier this year when she publicly declared she believed she was the missing British child who vanished from a Portuguese holiday apartment in 2007.
German Authorities Debunk Claims
German prosecutors, who have been leading the investigation into Madeleine's disappearance since 2020, have definitively stated that Wandelt is not the missing child. A spokesperson for the Braunschweig public prosecutor's office confirmed they had investigated the woman's claims and found no connection to the McCann case.
"We have dealt with this person and have no evidence that it is Madeleine McCann," the spokesperson told The Independent.
Polish Police Launch Fraud Investigation
The situation has taken a serious turn as Polish authorities have now opened an investigation into Wandelt for alleged identity document fraud. According to reports, the investigation centres on concerns that she may have used fake documents.
Wandelt had previously travelled to the United States using documentation, though the specific nature of the alleged fraud remains unclear as investigations continue.
Social Media Frenzy
The young woman's claims sparked a social media storm after she appeared on platforms claiming to be Madeleine. She suggested she had physical similarities to computer-generated age progression images of what Madeleine might look like today.
Her online presence attracted both supporters and sceptics, with many questioning the validity of her claims from the outset.
Ongoing Madeleine McCann Investigation
Meanwhile, the official search for Madeleine McCann continues. German authorities remain focused on their prime suspect, convicted sex offender Christian Brückner, who is currently in prison for other crimes.
Brückner has denied any involvement in Madeleine's disappearance, and prosecutors acknowledge they lack sufficient evidence to charge him in connection with the case.
The McCann family has endured numerous false leads and hoaxes since their daughter vanished aged three during a family holiday in Praia da Luz, Portugal. The latest incident involving Julia Wandelt represents another painful distraction for the family in their ongoing search for answers.
