Overview of the case
The courtroom case surrounding Julia Wandelt, a 24-year-old Polish woman, and Karen Spragg, 61, has brought renewed attention to the long-running Madeleine McCann mystery. Wandelt and Spragg are charged with stalking Kate McCann, Madeleine’s mother, between June 2022 and February of this year. Prosecutors say the duo repeatedly contacted Mrs. McCann, using the calls to press an extraordinary claim—that Wandelt is the missing girl themselves or a close relative, and that DNA testing would prove it.
Madeleine McCann disappeared in 2007 at the age of three from a resort in Praia da Luz, Portugal, during a family holiday. Since then, the case has remained one of the most scrutinized and debated missing-persons investigations in modern history. The new court proceedings throw light on the ongoing harm alleged to have been caused to Madeleine’s family by persistent, invasive contact.
Distressing voicemails and their content
In court, jurors heard several voicemails left by Wandelt for Kate McCann. One message included a striking claim of a DNA match that Gargoyle-like certainty was said to be “almost 70 percent” in Wandelt’s words. The messages feature direct statements that Wandelt is Madeleine and that a DNA test would prove the connection. The content shows a persistent pattern of contact designed to compel, confront, and influence the mother at home and in private spaces.
In another recording, Wandelt maintained that Madeleine is still alive, insisting that there might be a chance she is her daughter and urging the McCanns to engage with DNA testing. The messages were presented as evidence of an ongoing complication in the family’s life, with the claimant asserting a personal stake in the case’s outcome and repeatedly expressing a desire for recognition and contact with the child’s family.
The alleged stalking and alleged confrontations
Prosecutors say Wandelt and Spragg’s conduct extended beyond voicemails. There were reported instances in which Wandelt and Spragg visited the McCanns’ home without permission, resulting in the family feeling “distressed” and compromised at a time when safety and privacy are paramount. Kate McCann described the moment as frightening, noting the intrusion occurred in darkness and that she was unsure how to respond as Wandelt attempted to intervene at the doorway.
Mrs. McCann testified about the emotional impact of these encounters, explaining that the visit caused significant fear and distress. She recalled feeling a sense of alarm and vulnerability, concerns that have continued to haunt the family as they navigate legal proceedings and public scrutiny surrounding a case that has endured for nearly two decades.
What the court must decide
The case hinges on whether Wandelt and Spragg engaged in stalking under the applicable legal framework and whether their conduct indeed caused the distress alleged by Mrs. McCann. Both defendants deny the charges, maintaining that their actions were not criminal and that the allegations amount to mistaken identity or miscommunication. The jury and judge must weigh the credibility of voicemails, personal testimony, and other evidence to determine whether the threshold of stalking was crossed beyond reasonable doubt.
Context and implications for Madeleine McCann’s family
For the McCanns, the trial adds another painful layer to a case that has endured intense media attention, speculation, and global public interest. The family has repeatedly emphasized the need for privacy and respect as they pursue closure. Even as legal action unfolds, the core issue remains: ensuring the safety and wellbeing of the family while addressing the distress caused by alleged stalking and invasion of privacy.
The trial continues, with both sides presenting evidence and witnesses as the court determines whether Wandelt and Spragg’s actions constitute unlawful stalking. The outcome will be closely watched by observers around the world who follow cases involving missing children, online interactions, and the complexities of modern privacy and security for victims and families.
