Confidential DNA Examination Proved Suspected Stalker Was Not Madeleine McCann, Reports Officer
A suspected stalker who insisted to be the abducted child was ruled out after a confidential DNA test proved conclusively she was not the long-lost child, police have revealed in court.
Stalking Allegations Towards McCann Family
Julia Wandelt, 24, faces charges for a pattern of threatening behavior against the relatives of Madeleine, who disappeared from a holiday destination in Portugal in 2007 as a three-year-old.
The Polish national overwhelmed Kate and Gerry McCann and their adult children, Sean and Amelie, with numerous phone calls, messages, voicemails and letters between 2022 and earlier this year, and appeared at their home insisting on a DNA test, the court was earlier informed.
Investigation Details
Providing testimony on Tuesday, the chief investigator on Operation Grange, stated he had gone against procedure to test Wandelt “with the aim she may stop her behavior towards the McCann family”.
The senior officer said thirteen individuals had in the past insisted to be the missing girl but that: “We would not take DNA without strong belief that person was Madeleine because I did not want setting a precedent.
“If it became known in the media I had taken DNA from a person probably not to be Madeleine, I was anxious I would have had numerous individuals coming forward saying ‘I’m Madeleine’.
“I sincerely hold major concerns about reaching out to the family to say I intend to take DNA from an individual – that could have raised their hopes. It could have been very traumatic and difficult for the family.”
Genetic Testing
He said the police had earlier determined Wandelt not to be Madeleine due to dissimilar appearance and that she was older by two years than the missing girl. But, he said, after finding out Leicester police planned to arrest Wandelt on stalking charges, he “determined that the DNA would be taken during detention”.
He stated: “Testing was conducted. It conclusively proved that Julia Wandelt cannot be Madeleine McCann.”
Legal Testimony
Proceedings revealed that in April this year, the officer met with Wandelt in custody and informed her that her DNA had been compared to Madeleine’s and that the profiles did not match. Jurors were told he told Wandelt at that meeting: “You are not Madeleine McCann.”
Testimony indicated that throughout their discussion, Wandelt inquired: “Do you really want to find Madeleine?”, and the officer told the jury he answered: “Yes.”
He said notwithstanding the evidence, he believed Wandelt “would suggest we have interfered with the sample”, stating: “It was possible she would refuse to acknowledge she cannot be Madeleine notwithstanding scientific proof.”
Psychological Toll
In prior court sessions, testimony revealed how the family were left scared and upset by their “disturbing” and “deeply disturbing” interactions with Wandelt and her co-defendant Karen Spragg, 61, from Cardiff, as the pair attempted to push for a DNA test.
Jurors heard how both women made ever more strange plans” to acquire Kate McCann’s DNA, which included searching the McCanns’ bins and taking forks from restaurants that the family visited.
Both defendants both refute one count of stalking. The trial continues.