Investigator explains why woman claiming to be Madeleine McCann ‘isn’t lying’

Julia Wendell believes that she may be Madeleine McCann

Julia Wendell, who is also known by the names Julia Faustyna and Julia Wandelt, went viral in February after sharing what she claimed as “evidence” on Instagram that she is the girl who went missing in Praia da Luz in 2007. The evidence included some freckles on her leg and an eye defect. The 21-year-old, who would be two years older than Maddie who would turn 19 in April, has said she does not remember large chunks of her childhood, or the moment she was supposedly taken. She has also claimed she was abused by a German paedophile who looks like someone who was once a suspect in Maddie’s disappearance. Polish police have disputed Julia’s evidence and her parents have claimed she is unwell.

Julia appeared on Dr Phil on Monday night along with the medium she has been working with, Dr Fia Johansson, and reiterated her claims that she is Madeleine, saying ” I believe I am Madeleine McCann”.

Dr Fia Johansson, a psychologist helping Julia throughout the case, was also present during the show and sat by her side to support the 21-year-old's claims.

During the programme, Johansson reiterated that she feels that Wendell is telling the truth.

"I tried to ask her certain questions in a different way. Every single answer came back exactly the same," she told Dr Phil.

"When we [make] up stories normally we may have some changes in the middle of it because that’s not a true story.

"All these stories that she said about those memories, those thoughts, those images, those visions, it was exactly the same. So to me, I don’t believe that she’s lying about the memories or visions.

"I believe she remembers things, she’s trying to connect with those thoughts, and she’s trying to navigate them, that, 'is it really possible that I was there at that time'".

In the show, Wendell also spoke of some of her earliest memories which some people claim are reminiscent of the places Madeleine was taken during the McCann's family holiday to Praia da Luz, Portugal, in 2007.

"Before eight I have only this one early memory with beach and water, like sea or ocean and there were turtles and children try[ing] to catch turtles and take them [in] their hands," she said.

"And I remember light-coloured buildings, like white or a very light colour... sunlight on this building."

Johansson offered even more support, explaining: "[At] three years old, it’s very hard to remember things.

"But some backlash from [the] subconscious mind, [...] it could come back with some trauma."

Julia is currently in the US awaiting the outcome of three DNA samples and a genetics test to determine if she is in fact, Madeleine McCann.

Related links:

• Woman who claims she is Madeleine McCann tells Dr Phil exactly what she will do to prove it
• Family of woman claiming to be Madeleine McCann break their silence
• Polish police speak out on young woman’s claims she is Madeleine McCann