A Polish woman who falsely claimed to be missing British girl Madeleine McCann was arrested at Bristol Airport on suspicion of stalking and harassing the girl's parents.
In 2007, 3-year-old Madeleine vanished while on vacation in Praia da Luz, Portugal, sparking one of the world's most high-profile missing persons cases.
Julia Wandelt, a 23-year-old Polish woman, gained international attention in 2023 by claiming she was the missing girl, creating an Instagram account and appearing on "Dr. Phil" to support her theory, the New York Post reported.
However, a DNA test later proved she was of Polish, Lithuanian and Romanian descent, ruling out any connection to McCann. Wandelt publicly apologized, but in early 2024, she reignited her claims, citing supposed "new" DNA results that allegedly linked her to Madeleine's father, Gerry McCann.
On February 19, Wandelt arrived in the UK from Poland and was arrested at Bristol Airport, along with a 60-year-old woman from Wales who was reportedly her friend.
Authorities confirmed the arrest was related to allegations of stalking and harassment of Kate and Gerry McCann, who have endured years of scrutiny and conspiracy theories since their daughter's disappearance.
Despite previous DNA evidence disproving her claims, Wandelt allegedly continued to push her narrative, even reportedly attempting to contact Gerry McCann directly.
Wandelt remains in custody as police continue their investigation. If charged and convicted, she could face serious legal consequences.
Meanwhile, the McCanns have not publicly responded to the arrest, but have previously dismissed Wandelt's claims.
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