Accused Stalker Asked: 'But Suppose I Might Be Madeleine?'

Courtroom sketch
Julia Wandelt - according to court testimony claims she is disappeared Madeleine McCann - contest the accusations

A woman charged with stalking Kate McCann allegedly deposited her a recorded message which posed: "what if I am Madeleine?"

The defendant, twenty-four, who a jury heard has repeatedly declared she was the missing Madeleine McCann, and Karen Spragg are standing trial accused with stalking Kate and Gerry McCann from June 2022 and February the current year.

Madeleine McCann photo
Madeleine McCann's vanishing has never been solved

On Monday, the tribunal heard communication data and evidence retrieved from phones logged Ms Wandelt persistently requesting Madeleine's mother for a biological test throughout the past two years.

Madeleine's disappearance in 2007 - at the age of three during a trip in Portugal - is considered the most publicized investigations and continues to be unsolved.

'I Do Not Need Money'

A separate phone message, shared in court, recorded Ms Wandelt saying: "I understand I'm overweight and unattractive like Madeleine was, but I feel what I believe."

While a separate message of Ms Wandelt's one-way conversations with Mrs McCann's answerphone said: "What if there is a tiny probability that I am Madeleine? Then what? Wouldn't that be important for you?"

"I don't want money, I have a life here in Poland, I only wish to know," the message continued.

The jury was advised that through emails, mobile messages and calls, Ms Wandelt asked for a DNA test, forwarded youth pictures to her phone in a bid to show a likeness to Mrs McCann's disappeared daughter, and claimed to have "recollections" from a childhood with the McCanns.

An intelligence analyst, an investigator with Leicestershire Police who collated the data, advised the court there "seemed to lack any replies" from Mrs McCann.

Ms Wandelt also communicated with acquaintances of the McCanns, based on the communication logs.

On 9 October 2024, Mr McCann picked up a communication from Ms Wandelt to his wife's phone, saying she had "the wrong phone."

During that incident Ms Wandelt recorded a recording on Mrs McCann's answerphone stating "I won't give up and I intend to demonstrate my position."

Court proceedings
Kate and Gerry McCann testified to the court from protected by a protective barrier on Wednesday

The court learned the co-defendant established a relationship through digital means with Ms Wandelt prior to assisting her on a trip to the McCanns' home in Leicestershire in that winter.

Communication data revealed Mrs Spragg had reached out through messaging service to Mrs McCann to express the press had characterized Ms Wandelt as "a crazy person" but that she ought to be taken seriously in the months preceding the trip to Rothley, the county, in last December.

The court heard communications between the two accused, in that autumn, planning attempting to obtain Mrs McCann's DNA samples from her bins or from silverware at a dining venue.

"We must make a stand," the co-defendant informed Ms Wandelt.

On the night of the visit to their home, Mrs Spragg sent a message which stated: "We are sat outside the McCanns' home with our lights out resembling detectives. I had hoped to achieve this with another person I didn't imagine I would be involved in this with the McCanns."

The proceedings ongoing.

Kristin Farrell
Kristin Farrell

A tech enthusiast and business consultant with over a decade of experience in digital innovation and market analysis.