Covert DNA Analysis Proved Alleged Stalker Was Not Madeleine McCann, Says Officer
An accused stalker who insisted to be the abducted child was excluded after a confidential DNA test definitively confirmed she was not the missing girl, authorities disclosed in court.
Targeted Behavior Towards McCann Family
Julia Wandelt, aged 24, faces charges for a pattern of threatening behavior against the family of Madeleine, who went missing from a Portuguese resort in Portugal in 2007 when she was three.
The woman from Poland bombarded Kate and Gerry McCann and their adult children, Sean and Amelie, with countless communications, messages, voicemails and letters between 2022 and earlier this year, and appeared at their home requesting a DNA test, the court was earlier informed.
Official Statements
Testifying on Tuesday, the lead detective on Operation Grange, stated he had acted outside normal guidelines to test Wandelt “with the aim she may stop her conduct towards the McCann family”.
Detective Chief Inspector Mark Cramwell said over a dozen persons 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 aimed to prevent setting a precedent.
“If it became known in the media I had taken DNA from someone most likely not to be Madeleine, I was concerned I would have had numerous individuals coming forward saying ‘I’m Madeleine’.
“I genuinely have major concerns about reaching out to the family to say I plan to take DNA from an individual – that could have raised their hopes. It could have been quite emotionally damaging and challenging for the family.”
Forensic Analysis
He said investigators had earlier determined Wandelt not to be Madeleine due to a lack of resemblance and that she was two years older than the missing girl. But, he said, after learning Leicester police planned to arrest Wandelt on harassment allegations, he “made the decision that the DNA would be taken upon arrest”.
He declared: “Testing was conducted. It conclusively proved that Julia Wandelt is not Madeleine McCann.”
Legal Testimony
Jurors learned that in April this year, the officer visited Wandelt under arrest and informed her that her DNA had been compared to Madeleine’s and that the genetic markers did not match. The jury heard he told Wandelt during the visit: “You are not Madeleine McCann.”
The court heard that while they spoke, Wandelt asked: “Do you sincerely wish to find Madeleine?”, and the officer told the jury he responded: “Yes.”
He said despite the test, he believed Wandelt “would suggest we have interfered with the sample”, stating: “There was a possibility she would refuse to acknowledge she is not Madeleine despite being given scientific proof.”
Family Impact
In prior court sessions, the court heard how the McCanns were left scared and distressed by their “creepy” and “extremely troubling” interactions with Wandelt and the other accused Karen Spragg, 61, from Cardiff, as both defendants attempted to push for a DNA test.
Jurors heard how the pair made ever more strange plans” to obtain Kate McCann’s DNA, which included rummaging in the McCanns’ bins and taking forks from restaurants that the McCanns dined at.
The accused women both refute one count of stalking. Proceedings are ongoing.
