The father of a Polish woman, Julia Wandelt, who claims to be the missing child Madeleine McCann, has publicly expressed concern for his daughter’s mental health. Jacek Wandelt described her as “sick but not bad” while emphasizing that she needs professional help.
Julia Wandelt, aged 24 and from Gorzów Wielkopolski, has repeatedly contacted the McCann family, insisting that she is their daughter who disappeared in 2007. Despite her assertions, DNA tests have confirmed she is not related to the McCanns. Wandelt has even traveled to Rothley, the McCann’s hometown in Leicestershire, to confront them directly about her claims.
Jacek Wandelt, a 61-year-old radiologist, recounted a recent conversation during a car ride where Julia insisted, “Daddy, I love you, but you are not my dad; I am Madeleine McCann.” He noted that although she seemed to be coming to terms with her identity during a visit before Christmas, she has since intensified her claims.
According to reports, Wandelt’s birth certificate shows she was born in 2001, two years after Madeleine McCann went missing at the age of three from her family’s holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, Portugal.
Julia has not lived with her father since childhood, after he separated from her mother, Dorota. Jacek stated that Wandelt was a “happy, normal” child until she experienced trauma at the age of 11, when her step-grandfather, Peter Ney, who has since been convicted of abuse, negatively impacted her well-being. Jacek referred to Ney as a “monster” and acknowledged that Julia’s personality began to change around that time.
Teachers also observed significant changes in Wandelt’s behavior, noting that she began to seek attention more aggressively after 2011. Jacek admitted his limited involvement in her upbringing, particularly after her family relocated to Wroclaw.
“Julia is not bad; she is sick and needs help. Every day I think of her and I pray that she may get well,” Jacek remarked.
A childhood friend of Wandelt shared that Julia is seeking support rather than notoriety. This friend noted that Wandelt has shown signs of improvement following two years of therapy starting in 2021, though they have not seen each other since.
Wandelt began reaching out to the McCann family in 2022, posting a series of photographs on social media that compared her appearance to that of the missing girl. Her claims have garnered significant attention, resulting in over a million followers on TikTok.
As this situation unfolds, the Wandelt family continues to navigate the complexities of Julia’s condition and her ongoing claims.
