In one of the most bizarre twists in the long-running mystery of Madeleine McCann’s disappearance, a Polish woman named Julia Wendell claimed earlier this year that she might be the missing British girl who vanished from a Portuguese resort in 2007. Wendell, who is 21 years old, attracted international attention and controversy with her social media posts, where she shared alleged evidence of her resemblance to Madeleine, such as a distinctive eye defect, dimples, moles and teeth gaps.
Wendell also appeared on popular TV shows such as Dr. Phil, where she insisted that she had doubts about her identity and her family, and that she wanted to take a DNA test to prove her claim. She said she had no memories of her childhood before 2007, and that she had never seen a photo of her mother pregnant with her. She also accused her father of sexually abusing her and having possible ties to the McCann case.
However, the DNA test results have finally arrived, and they have conclusively disproved Wendell’s claim. According to Fia Johansson, a private investigator working with Wendell, the test showed that Wendell has near 100 per cent Polish heritage, with no evidence of British or even German ancestry. Johansson said that Wendell broke down in tears when she learned the truth, and that she was shocked that neither Madeleine’s parents nor Wendell’s own parents agreed to take a DNA test to resolve the matter.
Madeleine’s parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, who are still searching for their daughter, issued a brief statement through their spokesperson, saying that there was nothing to report at this time, and that any updates would come from the Metropolitan Police. The McCanns have always maintained their hope that Madeleine is still alive somewhere, despite several false leads and dead ends over the years.
Wendell’s parents, who have denied any involvement in Madeleine’s disappearance or any wrongdoing towards their daughter, said in a written statement that it was obvious that Julia was not Madeleine, and that they had memories and photos to prove it. They also said that Wendell had stolen her own birth certificate and childhood photos from their home, as well as hospital discharges.
This story raises many questions about Wendell’s motives and mental state, as well as the ethics and responsibility of the media and social media platforms that gave her a platform to spread her false claim. It also reminds us of the ongoing tragedy of Madeleine McCann’s disappearance, which remains unsolved after almost 16 years. We can only hope that one day, the truth will come out and justice will be served.
