American Woman Claims She Is Madeleine McCann and Submits Ancestry DNA Test

Eugenea Collins, a woman from the United States, has publicly claimed she may be Madeleine McCann, the British toddler who disappeared from a holiday villa in Praia de Luz, Portugal, in May 2007 at age 3. Collins said she was prompted to investigate her own identity after watching a Dr. Phil segment featuring another claimant. She has submitted an ancestry DNA test - which shows she is 68% English and Northwestern European - as supporting evidence, though no direct comparison with the DNA of Madeleine’s parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, has been confirmed.

The Claim and Its Origins

Collins stated on social media: “If it wasn’t for me seeing her on the Dr. Phil show I would’ve never known… I saw the age progressions and it was like I was looking in a mirror. I just know I saw pictures of myself online and it says I’m missing.” Her claim follows that of Julia Wendell, a Polish woman who made similar assertions in 2023; Wendell’s DNA test ultimately showed she was nearly 100% Polish, ruling out any connection to the McCanns.

Collins has described difficulty obtaining official identification, including her birth certificate, which she says was sealed after her stepfather adopted her. She states these obstacles have prevented her from attending college or finding employment and that she has never seen her original birth certificate. She also posted photos comparing her biological father, Eugene, to Christian Brueckner - a key suspect in Madeleine’s disappearance - noting a facial resemblance.

What Experts and Authorities Say

Investigators and independent experts have approached the claim with skepticism. Without a direct DNA comparison to the McCann family, ancestry test results showing European heritage are not considered meaningful evidence of identity. Madeleine McCann’s disappearance remains one of the most widely reported unsolved missing-child cases in history; no trace of her has ever been found. Authorities continue to treat the case as an ongoing investigation. Collins’ claim has not been formally evaluated by British or Portuguese police as of the time of reporting.

References: Second woman claiming to be Madeleine McCann only realised after watching Dr Phil | U.S. woman claims she’s Madeleine McCann, shares DNA test to try to prove it