Family members of a Polish woman who said she could be missing British girl, Madeleine McCann, say they are “devastated” at the situation, as Madeleine’s birth parents say they’re willing to take a DNA test.
According to the Daily Record, family members are denying claims that 21-year-old Julia Faustyna didn’t know about her childhood. Faustyna, of Poland, said earlier this month she doesn’t remember much of her childhood, aside from a holiday memory of being in a “white-colored apartments.”
She posted on Instagram that the memory didn’t include any family members, but included seeing a beach and a “little bay as I can remember I saw [turtles] then and there were another children and they tried to touch small [turtles].”
As CrimeOnline previously reported, Madeleine, 3 at the time, was vacationing with her family in Praia da Luz, Portugal, in May 2007 when she vanished from her hotel room. Her parents had been dining a short distance away on the resort property while she slept in the room with her siblings.
Faustyna’s family said not only do they remember her childhood but they have photos of her growing up.
“We would like to take a stance on Julia’s case, which has spread the Internet and media in many countries in recent days,” a statement from Julia’s family read.
“For us as a family it is obvious that Julia is our daughter, granddaughter, sister, niece, cousin and step niece. We have memories, we have pictures.”
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Faustyna said she’s 21, but she isn’t certain if that is her exact age, since she reportedly hasn’t seen her birth certificate and doesn’t know if she was lied to. Madeleine, as of February 2023, would be 18 years old.
Family members, however, said when Faustyna moved from her family home, she took her birth certificate, along with childhood photos, with her.
“We have memories, we have pictures. Julia also has these photos, because she took them from the family home with the birth certificate, as well as numerous hospital discharges,” the statement read.
“We always tried to understand all situations that happened with Julia. Numerous therapies, medicines, psychologists and psychiatrists – Julia had it all guaranteed. She wasn’t left alone.”
Faustyna claimed her parents rarely talk about her childhood and dismiss questions when she brings the past up. During the rare times they did talk about the past, Faustyna said their stories had inaccuracies.
She said an example includes her parents telling her she joined a school much earlier than September 2007, but her kindergarten teacher said that was her enrollment date.
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While speaking with The Tab, Faustyna said she’s tried to get her parents to talk about the discrepancies, but they reportedly refuse to engage.
“[My] mother didn’t want to talk about it,” she said. “She said the past is in the past and she is not going to talk about the past. She said now is the future and we should focus on the future. My dad said, ‘even if I am not your father will it change anything?’”
Family members added that they aren’t sure why Faustyna is claiming to be Madeleine but added that she always wanted to be “popular” and a singer and model.
“We’ve seen it all and we’ve tried to prevent it, to explain, we’ve asked her to stop. We always tried to help her get back on her feet.”
“Julia once wanted to be a singer, a model. She always wanted to be popular. What’s happening now she got one million followers. We’re afraid Julia will carry the inevitable. The internet won’t forget, and it’s obvious that Julia isn’t Maddie.
“We are devastated at this current situation. The family of Julia W.”
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[Featured image: Julia Faustyna/Instagram; Madeleine McCann/Family Handout]
