Suspected Stalker Asked: 'However What If I Might Be Madeleine?'
A woman indicted with harassing Kate McCann apparently deposited her a phone message which posed: "what if I am Madeleine?"
The defendant, twenty-four, who court testimony revealed has consistently asserted she was the vanished Madeleine McCann, and Karen Spragg are facing charges accused with pursuing Kate and Gerry McCann from June 2022 and February this year.
On Monday, Leicester Crown Court heard call records and information recovered from phones logged Ms Wandelt repeatedly asking Madeleine's mother for a DNA test throughout 2023 and 2024.
Madeleine's disappearance in 2007 - when she was three years old during a trip in Portugal - is considered the most covered missing child cases and remains open.
'I Am Not Seeking Money'
One phone message, shared in court, documented Ms Wandelt declaring: "I understand I'm overweight and not pretty like Madeleine had been, but I believe what I believe."
While one recording of Ms Wandelt's one-way conversations with Mrs McCann's recording said: "What if there is a small chance that I'm her? Then what? Wouldn't that be crucial for you?"
"I do not need money, I maintain a living here in Poland, I just want to understand," she added.
The tribunal was advised that via emails, SMS messages and calls, Ms Wandelt requested a DNA test, sent early photographs to her phone in a attempt to show a resemblance to Mrs McCann's missing daughter, and asserted to have "memories" from a early life with the McCanns.
Robert Jones, a data specialist with law enforcement who compiled the information, told the court there "showed no any replies" from Mrs McCann.
Ms Wandelt also communicated with family friends of the McCanns, based on the communication logs.
On 9 October 2024, the father picked up a communication from Ms Wandelt to his wife's phone, saying she had "incorrect contact information."
That day Ms Wandelt recorded a message on Mrs McCann's voicemail stating "I won't give up and I plan to establish my claim."
The court learned the co-defendant developed a connection via internet with Ms Wandelt preceding assisting her on a visit to the McCanns' home in that area in December 2024.
Call logs demonstrated Mrs Spragg had contacted using WhatsApp to Mrs McCann to say the news outlets had characterized Ms Wandelt as "emotionally disturbed" but that she deserved to be considered genuine in the months preceding the trip to Rothley, Leicestershire, in last December.
The court was told correspondence between the two defendants, in that autumn, considering attempting to acquire Mrs McCann's biological evidence from her garbage or from cutlery at a eating establishment.
"We must make a stand," the co-defendant advised Ms Wandelt.
On the occasion of the appearance to their home, Mrs Spragg transmitted a message which expressed: "We are sitting near the McCanns' home with our headlights off resembling investigators. I desired to do this with someone else I didn't imagine I would be involved in this with the McCanns."
The proceedings continues.
