21 February 2023 , 20:57
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An investigator hired by Madeleine McCann's parents has spoken out after a woman claimed that she is the missing girl.
Julia Wendell, from Poland, went viral this week after creating an Instagram account named @iammadeleinemcann, saying she started wondering if she was Maddie "a few months ago" after hearing "something" from her grandma.
She alleges that the McCanns have approached her to take a DNA test, and claims to have a freckle on her leg as well as a speck in her eye in the same places as Maddie.
She is 21 years old but believes her age could be wrong. Maddie was born in May 2003, meaning that she would now be 19.
However, Francisco Marco - a private detective who led the hunt for Maddie in the months after her disappearance - has broken his silence over the unsubstantiated claims.
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Julia alleges that the McCanns have approached her to take a DNA test
Madeleine McCann has been missing since May 2007 (METROPOLITAN POLICE/AFP via Gett)He told Spanish newspaper El Independiente: "Without knowing the details in depth, it doesn't add up to me. I don't think it's her."
In recent months, people have taken to social media as part of a trend to show their likeness to Maddie.
The most recent claims, made on TikTok and Instagram, have seen Ms Wendell comparing her photos to those of Maddie as "evidence" that they are the same person.
She also wrote on her Instagram story: "I talked with someone from Madeleine's family and I will have a possibility to talk with Madeleine's parents tomorrow and DNA test will be done soon."
In a post published on Friday, the woman claimed to have spoken to someone who was alleged to be Madeleine's cousin, and who told her she could "have a possibility" to talk to Kate and Gerry McCann to arrange a DNA test.
These claims have not yet been addressed by Madeleine's family.
Maddie's parents, Kate and Gerry McCann (PA)Her Instagram bio, on a profile that has now gained more than 200,000 followers, says: "I think I can be Madeleine. I need DNA test.
"Police investigators from UK and Poland try to ignore me. I will tell my story in posts here. Help me."
Answering questions she was asked by some followers, the unnamed woman said she does not remember being taken away and has no recollection of most details of her childhood.
She said: "I don't remember being taken away. I mean, I don't remember almost my entire childhood."
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The latest comments come after a source close to the McCanns told the Daily Star Sunday that they are "willing to look at all leads".
They said: "The family are taking no chances, they are willing to look at all leads. It is important they look at all of the factors, the girl does look similar. There’s no disputing that.
"If what she says is true, there is every chance it could be her. It all adds up."
Julia has made a number of claims about the Madeleine McCann caseHowever, German investigators believe Maddie - who disappeared during a family holiday in Portugal in 2007 - was killed by sex predator Christian Brueckner, who has repeatedly denied having anything to do with the girl's disappearance.
But despite extensive searches and countless police investigations, the youngster's body has never been found.
More than three years since they named Brueckner as their prime suspect, police also appear no closer to charging him, as they do not have enough evidence to prove he is responsible for her disappearance and murder.
The Mirror had previously reported a friend's claims that prosecutors have admitted they are struggling to get enough evidence against him.
They have started re-interviewing Brueckner's friends and associates in a bid to crack the case once and for all.
One pal, who knew the German man when they were living in the Algarve together, spoke to detectives in recent months.
He said: "They believe Chris did it, they say they know he did it, but they told me they don’t have proof. That's why they are going back over old interviews. When they spoke to me they were very open about what the situation is.
"It felt like they are struggling. They just asked the same questions again, there was nothing new."
The McCanns could not be contacted for comment.