Covert DNA Analysis Confirmed Alleged Stalker Was Not Madeleine McCann, Says Investigator
An accused stalker who claimed to be Madeleine McCann was ruled out after a secret DNA test established beyond doubt she was not the long-lost child, investigators stated in court.
Harassment Campaign Against McCann Family
Julia Wandelt, 24, is accused of a stalking campaign against the relatives of Madeleine, who disappeared from a holiday destination in Portugal in 2007 as a three-year-old.
The Polish citizen flooded Kate and Gerry McCann and their older offspring, Sean and Amelie, with numerous phone calls, messages, voicemails and letters over a period spanning 2022 to this year, and turned up at their home requesting a DNA test, jurors learned during proceedings.
Police Testimony
Giving evidence on Tuesday, the senior investigating officer on Operation Grange, stated he had deviated from protocol to test Wandelt “intending she may stop her behavior towards the McCann family”.
DCI Mark Cramwell said 13 people had earlier asserted to be Madeleine McCann but that: “We would not take DNA without strong belief that person was Madeleine because I aimed to prevent setting a precedent.
“If it was revealed in the media I had taken DNA from a person probably not to be Madeleine, I was worried I would have had many persons coming forward saying ‘I’m Madeleine’.
“I truly possess major concerns about approaching the family to say I aim to take DNA from an individual – that could have built up their expectations. It could have been highly distressing and hard for the family.”
DNA Comparison
He said authorities had already judged Wandelt not to be Madeleine due to a lack of resemblance and that she was not the same age than Madeleine. But, he said, after learning Leicester police were going to take into custody Wandelt on criminal accusations, he “made the decision that the DNA would be taken when she was apprehended”.
He said: “Analysis occurred. It conclusively proved that Julia Wandelt is definitely not Madeleine McCann.”
Legal Testimony
Jurors learned that in April this year, Cranwell visited Wandelt under arrest 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 while speaking with her: “You are not Madeleine McCann.”
Testimony indicated that during their conversation, Wandelt inquired: “Do you sincerely wish to find Madeleine?”, and the detective told the jury he replied: “Yes.”
He said notwithstanding the evidence, he believed Wandelt “could allege we have tampered with the sample”, remarking: “There was a possibility she would never accept she is not Madeleine even when provided with scientific proof.”
Family Impact
In prior court sessions, testimony revealed how the relatives were left frightened and traumatized by their “creepy” and “extremely troubling” interactions with Wandelt and the other accused Karen Spragg, 61, from Cardiff, as the pair attempted to insist on a DNA test.
The court learned how both women made “increasingly bizarre plans” to obtain Kate McCann’s DNA, which included going through the McCanns’ bins and stealing utensils from restaurants that the McCanns dined at.
Both defendants both contest one count of stalking. The case remains active.
