'Fake Madeleine McCann' Julia Wandelt launches another fundraiser after old page is deleted due to 'reports by haters'
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: 'Fake Madeleine McCann' Julia Wandelt has relaunched a fundraiser for herself, claiming that the one she previously launched was removed. She shared the link to the fundraiser, titled 'Help for Julia Wandelt', on her Instagram story, writing, "I created new fundraiser and I really hope that it will not be deleted again because of reports made by haters.. I am very thankful for everyone who supports me."
Thousands of people were left baffled after Wandelt, a 21-year-old Polish girl, created an Instagram account in an attempt to prove she is Madeleine McCann, a minor who went missing in Praia da Luz, Portugal, in 2007. Her case prompted a massive social media conversation where some believed her and some accused her of lying. Her claims were eventually debunked by a DNA test.
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Hundreds of dollars were raised by Wandelt, who also goes by the names Julia Wendell and Julia Faustyna, through her previous fundraiser. The funds were raised to assist her in "returning to a somewhat normal life" after the DNA test revealed her claims were false.
Julia Wandelt's new fundraiser
Wandelt wrote on the page of her new fundraiser, "Hi, I am creating this fundraiser to help myself. Many people told me that I should do this but I refused because I didn’t want to make people saying that I’m a liar or just a bad person but I decided to ask you for help..I need your help. I understand the media frenzy surrounding this has been hectic and overwhelming for everyone. It has also been an awfully overwhelming time for me, I’m 21 year old girl, I’ve been through a lot in my young life. Over the last few weeks, I was coerced into going to the USA, in return isolating me from everything around me. Whilst over there, went through a tough time which in turn resulted in me being even more isolated and distrusting of others."
It continued, "Now I’m at home in Poland and trying to return to a somewhat normal life with my boyfriend and my lovely cat Monte - I am being met with vicious untrue statements and outright lies pertaining to ny character. I need to get back on my feet, I need to be able to get myself to a place where I can return to the work force and thrive in the career I choose. In order to do that I need support around me such as lawyers and professionals."
The fundraiser added, "Many people want to know how to help, and have reached out to do so. I was declining offers and not wanting to take peoples money, but many people wrote me and they said that creating this would be very helpful for me and hopefully I can start working towards getting me on my feet where I can then make certain decisions for myself. I may choose to retain some legal advice, which of course is costly. Every little helps, and will be so genuinely appreciated. Support and help I have received over the last few days have been overwhelming and beautiful and I am so extremely grateful for each person who has reached out." At the time of writing this article, 405 PLN ($96.53) has been raised out of the target of 10,000 PLN ($2376.33).
German court decides not to hear sex offenses case against Christian Bruckner
Meanwhile, a German court has decided that it will not hear a sex offenses case against Christian Bruckner, the prime suspect in the disappearance of McCann, as the region where it is located is not the last place the suspect lived in Germany, according to The Guardian. German prosecutors charged Bruckner in 2022 with three offenses of aggravated rape of women and two offenses of sexual abuse of children. He reportedly committed the crimes between December 2000 and July 2017 in Portugal. However, those crimes were not linked to McCann's disappearance.
The court's decision, however, does not mean Bruckner will be released from jail. He is currently serving a seven-year term in Oldenburg for the rape of a 72-year-old woman. The incident took place in the same area of the Algarve where McCann disappeared. His term is expected to end in 2025. If his case is moved to a new jurisdiction due to the court's decision, prosecutors will have to study the case and familiarize themselves from scratch — something Brunswick authorities have worked on for several years now.