Eugenea Collins, a 22-year-old from Arkansas, claims to be Madeleine McCann, who disappeared in 2007. She asserts she has “DNA proof” to support her identity, though experts have dismissed her statements.
Origin of the Claim
Collins began suspecting she was McCann after watching Julia Wandelt on Dr. Phil, who previously made similar claims. “If it wasn’t for me seeing her on the Dr. Phil show, I would’ve never known,” Collins said. She believes she shares physical similarities with McCann, including age and appearance.
DNA Test and Skepticism
Collins took an ancestry DNA test showing she is 68% English and Northwestern European, but no direct link to the McCann family was found. Critics point out that Collins lacks McCann’s distinctive eye defect, which she tries to explain by scars on her ears.
Links to Suspect Christian Brueckner
Collins also suggests her alleged father resembles Christian Brueckner, the prime suspect in McCann’s disappearance. She feels a deep “longing and loneliness” and believes her real family is searching for her. Despite her conviction, law enforcement has not supported her claim.