Social media users have questioned claims by a Polish woman who says she is Madeleine McCann, a British girl who disappeared 16 years ago at the age of three while on a family holiday in Portugal.
Madeleine’s parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, were on vacation in Praia da Luz, Portugal, along with their three children – Madeleine and twins Sean and Amelie – when Madeline was dragged from her bed on May 3, 2007 in her ground floor apartment.
“I don’t remember most of my childhood but my earliest memory is very strong and it’s about vacations in hot places where there was beach and white or very bright [colored] building with [apartments]’ Poland’s Julia Faustyna, also known as Julia Wendlet, wrote in an Instagram post from her @iammadeleineccann account last week.
The account began posting photos last week. Faustyna says she has a spot in her right eye and a beauty mark on her cheek similar to McCann’s. She also claims details of her childhood do not add up, leading her to believe that she was kidnapped as an infant.
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Faustyna’s account quickly went viral. She said in an update last week that Kate and Gerry McCann agreed to a DNA test, which a family lawyer has not confirmed to Fox News Digital.
“Due to an active police investigation, Gerry and Kate are not making statements or giving interviews unless requested by the Metropolitan Police,” Megan Spector, official coordinator of the Find Madeleine campaign, said in a statement.
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Social media users who were initially curious about Faustyna’s claims are now suspicious of the viral account after Faustyna posted a photo of her mother and then deleted it. Users say she resembles her mother more than the McCanns.
A Polish blog for missing persons also posted an alleged statement by the family of “Julia W.” on Facebook.
“For us as a family, it goes without saying that Julia is our daughter, granddaughter, sister, niece, cousin and step-niece. We have memories, we have pictures,” the statement said. “Julia also has these photos because she took them from the parental home with the birth certificate and numerous hospital discharges.”
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The statement adds that Faustyna has had “numerous therapies, medications, psychologists and psychiatrists” but she has “moved out of the house” and “is refusing treatment.”
“[Julia] Wanted to be a singer, model. She always wanted to be popular. What happens now, she has 1 million followers. We fear Julia will bear the inevitable. The internet won’t forget it and it’s obvious that Julia isn’t Maddie. We are shocked by this current situation. At the same time, we would like to announce that we will not conduct interviews, publish photos, or comment on articles. Please direct any questions or concerns to the spokesman for the Provincial Police Command in Worcław,” the statement continued.
Faustyna has help from medium Dr. Fia Johansson, also known as @persianmedium on social media, to share her story.
The Metropolitan Police of London told Fox News Digital that they had no new comment on the investigation.
“We continue to support our colleagues in Germany in their investigations,” said the Met Police.
Pole Julia Faustynna claims she is Madeleine McCann, a British girl who disappeared in Portugal 16 years ago. (TikTok @iammadeleineccann/ Official Find Madeleine campaign on Facebook)
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In 2020, German police named convicted child molester and drug dealer Christian Brückner, 45, as a suspect in the 3-year-old’s disappearance, although Brückner, a German national, continues to deny any involvement in the case.
Brueckner is currently serving time in a German prison for drug-related offences. He also has a seven-year sentence pending in connection with the 2005 rape of a 72-year-old American woman in Praia da Luz.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.