A detective involved in the Madeleine McCann missing case disclosed that a person claiming to be the missing girl provided police with “eight reasons” supporting her assertion.
During the trial of two women, Julia Wandelt, aged 24, and Karen Spragg, aged 61, who are accused of stalking the McCann family, testimony from Detective Constable Mark Draycott revealed insights from the Scotland Yard investigation into Madeleine’s disappearance. Draycott, a former officer on Operation Grange, informed the Leicester Crown Court that Wandelt had contacted him in June 2022, alleging she was Madeleine.
Draycott informed the court that the 24-year-old contacted him, asserting she was the missing girl who vanished during a family vacation in Portugal in 2007. He explained that Operation Grange was established to unravel the mystery surrounding Madeleine McCann’s disappearance and that Wandelt had sent him an email containing “eight reasons why I could be Maddie,” along with photos of herself.
After assessing the situation, Draycott compiled a police report stating that Wandelt was not Madeleine McCann due to differences in eye features, age, and possible mental health issues. He later reassured Wandelt over the phone that she was not the missing girl, emphasizing that no DNA test would be conducted as it was unnecessary and impractical.
Additionally, Reverend Robert Gladstone, the vicar of Rothley Parish Church, testified that he had known the McCann family since Madeleine’s disappearance. He recounted meeting Wandelt at a vigil marking the anniversary of Madeleine’s disappearance, where she claimed to be the missing girl with Kate and Gerry McCann as her real parents. Rev. Gladstone expressed skepticism, highlighting physical differences that led him to believe Wandelt was not related to the McCann family.
Julia Wandelt, a Polish national, is facing charges of stalking the McCann family for over two and a half years while falsely claiming to be Madeleine. She is on trial alongside Karen Spragg from Cardiff, who is accused of stalking the McCanns through calls, letters, and visits to their residence. The trial is ongoing.
