A forensic expert who spent dozens of hours with the woman who falsely claimed to be Madeleine McCann has revealed the four key behavioural signs that exposed her as an imposter.
The imposter's campaign and conviction
Julia Wandelt, a 24-year-old from Poland, was sentenced to six months in prison at Leicester Crown Court in November 2025 for harassing Madeleine McCann's family. The court heard she had bombarded them with calls, messages, and sinister letters, and had confronted them in person, all while falsely insisting she was their missing daughter.
Her campaign began in February 2023 when she launched an "I Am Madeleine McCann" Instagram account, which amassed one million followers. Wandelt aggressively demanded a DNA test to prove her identity, a claim that was ultimately proven false.
Expert analysis of the deception
Forensic investigator and medium Dr Fia Johansson, 41, from Orange County, California, engaged with Wandelt shortly after her social media campaign started. Dr Johansson, who was investigating the claims, has now disclosed the specific behaviours that raised her suspicions long before the legal conclusion.
"People who genuinely believe they are a missing child don't lead with a DNA demand," Dr Johansson stated. "Her insistence felt rehearsed, like she was planting the idea in people's minds."
The four revealing behaviours
Dr Johansson identified four primary indicators of deception in Wandelt's conduct:
1. Aggressively insisting on a DNA test: According to the expert, Wandelt pushed for the test before being publicly challenged, framing it as evidence that authorities were afraid of the truth.
2. Emotional overreactions: Dr Johansson described Wandelt's emotional state as volatile and performative. "One moment she would cry and the next she would laugh. Every time you would catch her out with something she would scream and cry like an animal," she observed.
3. Eye and facial twitching: The investigator noted consistent upper-face twitching, particularly when Wandelt was confronted with logical inconsistencies in her story. Dr Johansson cited studies suggesting such involuntary muscle movements can signal untruthfulness.
4. Switching personalities to match her audience: Wandelt's demeanour changed dramatically depending on who she was with. She was "funny and talkative" with friends, but would adopt a victim persona, claiming abuse and a disastrous life, when speaking to those who believed her story.
A calculated performance for fame
Dr Johansson concluded that Wandelt was ultimately "fame hungry" and motivated by social media attention. "She had no job, no routine. All she did was wake up, go online and claim to be that person," the expert said.
Despite her early suspicions, Dr Johansson maintained rapport to gather information. "As a forensic professional, you cannot break rapport. If I told her I didn't believe her, she would have disappeared," she explained.
Sentencing Wandelt, Judge Mrs Justice Cutts at Leicester Crown Court said: "It has been confirmed in this case you are not Madeleine McCann. There was not proper or logical basis for this. What you should not have done is behave as you did to the McCanns."
Dr Johansson believes Wandelt owes the McCann family an apology for the distress caused by her fabricated claims and relentless harassment.
