Accused Stalker Inquired: 'However What If I Might Be Madeleine?'

Courtroom sketch
Karen Spragg - according to court testimony believes she is disappeared Madeleine McCann - deny the charges

A woman charged with pursuing Kate McCann allegedly left her a recorded message which asked: "suppose I am Madeleine?"

Julia Wandelt, twenty-four, who court testimony revealed has persistently claimed she was the missing Madeleine McCann, and Karen Spragg are facing charges charged with stalking Kate and Gerry McCann between June 2022 and February this year.

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

On Monday, Leicester Crown Court was told phone records and information retrieved from phones documented Ms Wandelt repeatedly requesting Madeleine's mother for a genetic test during that period.

Madeleine's case in 2007 - as a three-year-old during a family holiday in Portugal - is one of the most covered missing child cases and is still unresolved.

'I Do Not Need Money'

One phone message, shared in court, captured Ms Wandelt stating: "I know I'm fat and not pretty like Madeleine used to be, but I feel what I know."

While another instance of Ms Wandelt's monologues with Mrs McCann's answerphone stated: "What if there is a small chance that I'm her? What happens next? Isn't that important for you?"

"I am not seeking money, I have a existence here in Poland, I only wish to know," the recording stated.

The tribunal was told that through emails, mobile messages and communications, Ms Wandelt asked for a genetic test, transmitted childhood photos to her phone in a bid to demonstrate a similarity to Mrs McCann's disappeared daughter, and stated to have "memories" from a childhood with the McCanns.

An intelligence analyst, a data specialist with the police force who collated the evidence, informed the court there "didn't appear to be any replies" from Mrs McCann.

Ms Wandelt furthermore reached out to close associates of the McCanns, according to the call data.

On 9 October 2024, Mr McCann responded to a communication from Ms Wandelt to his wife's phone, declaring she had "incorrect contact information."

That day Ms Wandelt recorded a recording on Mrs McCann's recording stating "I will persist and I intend to demonstrate my point."

Court proceedings
Kate and Gerry McCann provided testimony to the court from protected by a security measure on Wednesday

The court learned Mrs Spragg developed a connection online with Ms Wandelt preceding joining her on a trip to the McCanns' property in the county in last December.

Phone records revealed Mrs Spragg had contacted using messaging service to Mrs McCann to say the press had characterized Ms Wandelt as "a crazy person" but that she ought to be taken seriously in the time preceding the trip to the village, that area, in last December.

The court heard correspondence between the two defendants, in November 2024, discussing endeavoring to obtain Mrs McCann's genetic material from her garbage or from utensils at a restaurant.

"We must assert ourselves," the co-defendant informed Ms Wandelt.

On the evening of the appearance to their residence, the defendant sent a message which stated: "We are sat adjacent to the McCanns' home with our headlights off similar to private investigators. I had hoped to do this with someone else I didn't imagine I would be engaged in this with the McCanns."

The case proceeds.

John Herrera
John Herrera

Elara is a historian and writer passionate about uncovering the untold stories of ancient cultures and their impact on modern society.