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3rd April 2023
02:28pm BST
A private investigator and medium working with a woman claiming to be Madeleine McCann has now been granted power of attorney so she can make decisions for her.
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, an eye defect, and missing pages from her medical records.
The 21-year-old, who would be two years older than Maddie who would turn 19 this month, 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.
Last week Julia, and her investigator and advocate, Dr Fia Johansson - a doctor of psychology who also goes by the name, the Persian medium - appeared on Dr Phil where the chat show talked through her evidence. She is currently awaiting the results of a DNA test, which will reveal whether the family that raised her are her biological relatives.
Since then, Fia has announced on Instagram that she has been granted the legal powers to make life decisions for Julia whose parents have said she has rejected treatment, failed to take medication, and just wants to be popular. She can also act on her behalf.
Fia said she can now "legally and officially can decide Julia's living and her health and welfare" and called the development, "good news for Julia's fans and followers" and "bad news for people who can't use her anymore".
Julia’s appearance on Dr Phil came as is was revealed that police investigating Madeleine’s disappearance will be given another £300,000 to continue their inquires.
Reports have suggested Madeleine’s parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, are reportedly open to a DNA test, but they have never spoken about Julia’s case publicly.
Madeline was just four years old when she disappeared from her holiday apartment. No trace of her has ever been found and no one has been arrested. The prime suspect in the disappearance, convicted sex offender Christian Brueckner, has been charged in Germany with unrelated sexual offences. He is accused of five offences between 2000 and 2017 in Portugal. German prosecutors say the investigation into Maddie’s disappearance is ongoing separately.
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