A court hearing revealed that a Polish woman, Julia Wandelt, who is accused of stalking Madeleine McCann, engaged with an AI chatbot to inquire if she could potentially be the missing three-year-old. The AI chatbot indicated a “possibility” of her being Madeleine based on DNA comparisons but emphasized the need for additional evidence to confirm this.
During the trial at Leicester Crown Court, it was disclosed that Wandelt used the chatbot to compare her DNA with a sample from the location where Madeleine disappeared in Portugal. The analysis showed no match with Gerry McCann’s DNA profile. The chatbot suggested a genetic relationship consistent with that of a father and child.
Prosecution barrister Michael Duck KC presented transcripts of conversations between Wandelt and the chatbot, highlighting Wandelt’s inquiries about being Madeleine. The prosecution alleged that Wandelt propagated the falsehood of being the missing girl while stalking Gerry and Kate McCann from June 2022 to February 2023.
Additionally, DNA expert Rosalyn Hammond testified that the test results strongly indicated that Wandelt was not biologically related to the individual linked to the floor DNA profile. The court was informed that Wandelt initially believed she might be other missing individuals before focusing on claiming to be Madeleine.
Witness Iwona Modliborska, involved with a missing persons charity, testified that Wandelt sought information about DNA tests and considered herself as different missing girls before fixating on the idea of being Madeleine. Modliborska clarified that Wandelt’s claims were debunked by evidence and comparisons, leading Wandelt to eventually drop those assertions.
Wandelt, along with her co-defendant Karen Spragg, denies the charge of stalking. The trial is ongoing at Leicester Crown Court.