The 21-year-old woman who claims she's the missing Madeleine McCann has said she won't return to the family she grew up with even if DNA tests prove she's biologically related to them.
Julia Wendell, from Poland, made her thoughts on her parents clear as she appeared on the American chat show Dr. Phil this week, where she presented evidence to 'prove' she's McCann, who disappeared in 2007.
Wendell has a defect in her iris similar to one McCann had, as well as a similar mark on her face, and she's described her earliest memory as 'the beach and water, like sea or ocean'.
Advert
The memory was described by Dr. Phil as 'eerily similar to the place where Madeleine McCann was last seen alive', but the host played devil's advocate as he questioned what would happen if Wendell didn't turn out to be McCann.
Dr Phil questioned Wendell about why she had not submitted her DNA to Scotland Yard, who would be able to compare the samples to those known to be from McCann.
In response, Wendell claimed she had tried and failed several times to contact the police force.
She's now hoping to get answers from the results of her own DNA test, but no matter what they say, Wendell said she wants nothing to do with the family she grew up with.
"I think that mothers should not do these things to their children," she told Dr. Phil.
Advert
"If she is my mother, I don’t want to have contact with her that’s all, but I believe she isn’t my mother."
Wendell has claimed to have been subject to sexual assault as a child, and a doctor she has been working with, Dr. Fia Johansson, has alleged she was forced to take '35 pills from the age of 7'.
Johansson, who appeared on Dr Phil alongside Wendell, told the host Wendell's mother had 'refused to do a DNA test and she refused to answer any calls, texts or other communication'.
The claims made by the pair come in contrast to those made by Wendell's family, who in February said they were 'devastated' at the stories being told.
Advert
“For us as a family it is obvious that Julia is our daughter, granddaughters, sister, niece, cousin and step niece,” they said.
“Threats to our address from Julia, her lies and manipulations, activity on the internet. The internet won’t forget, and it’s obvious that Julia isn’t Maddie. We are devastated at this current situation.”
Wednell has said she'll do whatever tests necessary to prove her claims.
Featured Image Credit: Dr. Phil/YouTubeTopics: Madeleine McCann, UK News, US News