Woman shares ‘evidence’ she’s missing Madeleine McCann

A young woman who “truly believes” she’s missing Maddie has shared a string of photos she claims prove she is the missing child.

A young woman who believes she is missing British child Madeleine McCann has shared “evidence” to support her claims – allegedly prompting the McCanns to agree to a DNA test.

Julia Wendell, from Poland, went viral after launching an Instagram account named @iammadeleinemcann, which stated she began wondering if she was Maddie “a few months ago” after hearing “something” from her grandma.

The 21-year-old has since shared a string of photographs she claims prove her likeness to the missing girl – and amassed a following of almost 500,000 who are gripped by the latest twist in one of the world’s most infamous unsolved cases.

Madeleine McCann, from Leicestershire in the United Kingdom, went missing from her bed in a holiday apartment in the Portuguese resort town Praia da Luz on the evening of May 3, 2007.

She was three years old, meaning if she was alive today, she would be 19.

Madeleine McCann disappeared from her parents holiday apartment in Portugal in 2007. Picture: Metropolitan Police / AFP

Julia Wendell, from Poland, claims she ‘truly believes’ she is the missing child. Picture: Instagram/iammadeleinemccan

However, German investigators believe Maddie was killed by sex predator Christian Brueckner.

He was charged with three counts of aggravated rape and two counts of sexual abuse of children in October last year.

The alleged offences span a 17-year period between 2000 and 2017, The Sun reported at the time. He has not been charged with any offence in relation to Maddie’s disappearance.

Despite extensive searches and numerous police investigations, Maddie’s body has never been found.

Julia is the latest person in a string of unsubstantiated claims from people claiming they could be missing Maddie – but her likeness to the youngster has captured huge attention online.

Photos showing her similarity to Maddie have gained momentum online. Picture: Instagram/iammadeleinemccan

In one video, Julia showed marks on her body that are similar to Maddie’s, helpfully adding red circles to illustrate her point.

Another side-by-side image she cites as “evidence” shows her similar facial structure.

Perhaps the most powerful image is one showing Julia with what appears to be a similar eye defect to the one missing Maddie also has.

In Maddie’s case, this was caused by an extremely rare condition coloboma in her right eye, which police had hoped for years would help identify her.

Julia told followers she’s not looking for viral fame and “truly believes” she is missing Maddie, even asking her parents for proof of her birth and contacting police.

“Police investigators from UK and Poland try to ignore me. I will tell my story in posts here. Help me,” she wrote on Instagram.

“I have asked for pictures of when my mum was pregnant with me, other medical records and any pictures from my childhood and she never shows them, she just always tells me I’m crazy.

“My school teacher when I was very young said that I wasn’t there from the start but my parents insist I was.

“After all this confusion I began to do my own research I discovered what had happened to Madeleine McCann and started to piece together the similarities we shared.

“It has been so stressful trying to get people to listen to me.”

Kate and Gerry McCann are claimed to have agreed to do a DNA test. Picture: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

Maddie was three when she disappeared. If alive, she would be 19 today. Picture: CARLOS COSTA / AFP

As a result of the growing interest in Julia’s claims, it has been reported she has caught the attention of Maddie’s parents, Kate and Gerry McCann.

“The family are taking no chances, they are willing to look at all leads,” a source told the Daily Star.

“It is important they look at all of the factors, the girl does look similar. There’s no disputing that.

“If what she says is true, there is every chance it could be her. It all adds up.”

Almost 500,000 people are gripped to the new twist to missing Maddie’s case. Picture: Instagram/iammadeleinemccan

German police think Christian Brueckner, 43, who is currently serving a seven-year prison sentence, abducted and killed Maddie after phone records placed him near the scene. Picture: Bild/ Supplied

The hunt for Maddie has cost an estimated $23 million to date. Picture: AFP PHOTO / MELANIE MAPS

Many have condemned Julia’s mission to get a DNA test, with the young woman even copping death threats online, something she addressed in a post on Instagram.

“Thank you for support that you give me and for haters I have to say that I am not kidding and I truly believe that I can be her,” she wrote.

“I didn’t take money from anyone and I am not going to do this because police should do DNA test to me and compare it with Kate and Gerry McCann DNA.”

Kate and Gerry, now both 54, recently pledged to “never give up” their quest to find their missing daughter – adding they were entering their 16th year without her with “continued determination and positivity”.

The couple also have 17-year-old twins Sean and Amelie. It’s estimated the probe for Maddie has cost £13 million (approximately $23 million) to date.

Originally published as Woman shares ‘evidence’ she’s missing Madeleine McCann