Woman who claimed she was Madeleine McCann breaks silence on DNA test results

07 April 2023 , 13:48

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Julia Wendell says her spokesperson, a self-professed "psychic" called Dr Fia Johansson, was simply using her to grow her clients and following

The woman who worked the world into a frenzy after claiming to be Madeleine McCann has broken her silence for the first time since a DNA test proved she isn't.

Julia Wendell, 21, drummed up a huge Instagram following after creating the "I am Madeleine McCann" account - and even obtained the seal of approval about getting a DNA test from Maddie's own parents Kate and Gerry.

Convinced she was the girl based on key identifying features in her eye and on her leg, self-professed psychic Dr Fia Johansson involved herself in the case as her spokesperson.

After not getting the results she had expected, the pair have fallen out.

Julia alleges that the 40-year-old was simply using her to grow her own following and to attract more business as a psychic "private investigator".

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Maddie went missing from her parent's holiday apartment in 2003 (PA)

Julia has returned to Poland to be with her dad

Julia - who Dr Fia took to the US for her "safety" - has opted instead to return to her hometown in Poland to stay with her father after being told she was "100% Polish" in her DNA results.

Now from a new account called "Am I Julia Wendalt", using a different version of her surname she is known to use, she gave a long update about her relations with the doctor.

She alleged: “When I first met Fia for the first time I thought she wanted to help me.

“Now I know she wants only new followers, new clients."

Dr Fia Johansson became involved in the case before Maddie got her DNA results (iammadeleinemccan / Instagram)

She added: “And I have to say I never said I am Madeleine. I always said that I believe I could be Madeleine."

Despite the medical report, she continues to dispute the evidence.

She said: "We made ancestry DNA test, a few hours ago Fia sent me results but not from ancestry, she sent results from another platform. I found out what type of blood group I have.

"And it doesn’t match to my parents’ blood group. My family from mother said many times when I was younger that we have roots in Germany and Holland."

Kate and Gerry McCann hold up pyjamas similar to those that Maddie wore on the night Maddie disappeared (PA)

"So I don’t understand anything now. Fia said that I am Polish with Russian and Lithuanian but family said that I am Polish with German and Holland so what is the real truth?” she questioned.

She claimed not to be "delusional or crazy".

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"You can judge all of this things again and try to create another new opinion," she said.

"I never wanted publicity. I didn’t do all of this for attention or music career."

Responding to the accusations, Dr Fia said: "Julia was provided all the information about her DNA results to check for herself.

The McCanns in 2017 (PA)

"Although Julia is disappointed about this revelation and the spotlight may fade away, the truth as represented in the results speaks to perhaps an unwelcomed new reality.

"I tried to help her find her true identity as she wished, and through this journey I was hoping to provide her comfort with her new reality.

"Despite her recent postings, I wish her a well and happy life."

Ryan Fahey