The curious case of Madeleine McCann: Three other women claimed to be missing girl years before Julia Wandelt
LONDON, ENGLAND: Though it’s been almost 16 years years since three-year-old Madeleine McCann went missing from a holiday home in Praia da Luz, Portugal, in 2007, her case is not even near closure. However, a lot has happened in between, and the most recent incident being Polish woman Julia Wandelt claiming she was McCann. However, she is not alone as there have been others too who claimed the same only to be proven wrong.
Wandelt, who also uses goes by Julia Faustyna or Julia Wendell, is from Poland. The 21-year-old has also shared a number of apparent similarities between her and the missing child on an Instagram page, titled iammadeleinemcann, the bio of which 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. POSTS REELS.”
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‘I don't remember most of my childhood'
In one of her posts, she mentioned a “hot place” and “beach”. McCann was also holidaying with her family when she disappeared. The post stated, “I don't remember most of my childhood but my earliest memory is very strong and It's about holidays in hot place where was beach and White or very light colored buildings with apartments. I remember that I saw turtles on the beach it was little Bav as I can remember I saw turtles then and there were another children and they tried to touch small turtles. I don't see my family in this memory..”
Another social media post read, “I have Mark in the same eye, but my Mark is faded and I talked with eye doctor and he told me that it could be operated and I will go to doctor again to check it. I need Police investigator who will take it seriously!”
Since her bizarre claims, some people suggested she should take a DNA test while some criticized her for joking about such a sensitive case. However, Wandelt is not the first one trying to prove that she’s Madeleine. Earlier, three other girls tried the same thing.
Harriet Brookes: ‘Honestly, I think I'm Madeleine McCann’
It was in 2017 when a young woman named Harriet Brookes went viral for claiming to be McCann. The Scottish Sun reported at the time that the University of Leeds student spoke to her friends about it and said, “Right guys. I don’t usually believe in conspiracy theories but honestly, I think I'm Madeleine McCann.”
Not just that, she also reportedly shared photos, which hinted that she may be the missing girl as she added, “I'm Madeleine McCann and I don't know what to do with myself.” However, later it was discovered that she was older than McCann, and she herself confessed, “I just sent it for a joke hahaha."
The TikTok girl
After Harriet, another girl, per Marca, appeared on TikTok, declaring that she was McCann. However, her fib did not last long as it was revealed that she was three years older than the real McCann. Besides, she also admitted to lying.
Embla Jauhojarvi: ‘There was always hope’
Jauhojarvi never claimed that she was McCann but it was web sleuths who did that. She was photographed living homeless in Rome and many people speculated that she might be the missing child. Later, it was ruled out as a campaign group supported by McCann's parents, Kate and Gerry, reportedly said, “Thank you all for contacting us regarding this child. We have passed on to Operation Grange. They do not believe this is Madeleine. This is someone's child, so if you know who this child is, please contact the authorities in your country. Please keep sharing too.”
It was then discovered that the 22-year-old had been missing from her home before she was reunited with her father, Tahvo, who lived in Sweden. He told The Sun, “She's living with me again. She can have a better future... and plan a little bit better. There was always hope. It was very nice because I was missing her so much and everything went very well when she came back again.” Tahvo had also disclosed that Jauhojarvi had Asperger's.