Family Harassed by Persistent Caller Claiming Daughter is Missing Child
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A family has been subjected to a disturbing campaign of unwanted contact from an individual repeatedly claiming their daughter is Madeleine McCann, a British child who disappeared in 2007. The distressing details emerged in court testimony, revealing the significant emotional toll the harassment has taken on the family.
The family’s ordeal began in early 2024 with messages directed toward their daughter, Amelie. A senior official stated that the father was initially unaware of the direct dialog with his daughter,expressing sadness that she had not disclosed the messages to them. He further revealed awareness of the caller, identified as Ms wandelt, contacting his wife beginning in summer 2023, and potentially even earlier.
Relentless and Unidentified Calls
The harassment escalated to frequent, unidentified phone calls.According to testimony, the phone would “ring and ring and ring with no caller ID.” This constant bombardment had a profound impact on the mother, who was described as “obviously very distressed, irritated, irritable, struggling to concentrate.”
The father recounted one instance where he answered the phone himself. He stated, “I can’t remember the exact words but I said something like, ‘you’re not Madeleine.'” He emphasized that he “made it clear these were unwanted calls.”
Impact on Family Wellbeing
The persistent nature of the calls and messages has understandably caused significant emotional distress within the family. The father’s statement underscores the unsettling and invasive nature of the harassment, highlighting the psychological burden placed upon them. The case raises concerns about the increasing prevalence of online harassment and the challenges faced by families targeted by such behavior.
The family took the case to court, seeking a restraining order against Ms. Wandelt. A judge granted the order in November 2023, prohibiting Ms.Wandelt from contacting the family directly or indirectly. Ms. Wandelt, representing herself, argued she believed the girl was Madeleine McCann and that authorities were covering up the truth. The court heard she had made hundreds of calls. The order remains in effect, and authorities are monitoring for any violations.
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The family’s experience serves as a stark reminder of the potential for online interactions to spill over into real-world harm, and the importance of protecting vulnerable individuals from unwanted and distressing contact.
