Few in the field of private investigation and forensic psychology evoke the same respect as Dr. Fia Johansson. Acclaimed for the way she approaches high-profile missing people cases, for years Johansson has dedicated herself to sifting through layers of deceit, trauma, and media circus to reach the truth. Her work on the Madeleine McCann investigation since 2019 has solidified even further the position of guardian to truth and the possibly innocent people who can become victimized in its pursuit. Her work was put to the test more than ever in early 2023 when Julia Wandelt, a young Polish woman, emerged claiming to possibly be the Brit who went missing.
Julia’s story, driven by the media outlets’ hungry need for sensationalism, soon became an international drama. She was only 21, and too naive to handle the media spotlight, podcasters, and social media personalities. With the headlines mounting and the interviews multiplying, it appeared Julia was to be used like a pawn in an even greater game than she ever could have imagined. That’s when Dr. Johansson stepped into the picture.
Dr. Johansson knew Julia’s vulnerabilities right from the start. She knew to see behind the noise and identify the real danger: the unethical media figures hovering like sharks looking to make money off the spectacle. Inasmuch as Julia needed to be protected, so did the truth, Dr. Johansson stepped into the lead role for an independent investigation.
Her findings were an unambiguous but tragic picture. Julia had undoubtedly witnessed atrocious violence and cruelty in her life, yet it was none related to the McCann affair. Asserting this truth would be insufficient to shush the public’s speculations. Dr. Johansson knew that the public’s court would be dissatisfied with the cold, factual denial of Julia’s narrative. She needed to have a plan.
Working with Dr. Phil, Julia conducted a tightly controlled media interview whereby she was able to speak about her story in protected circumstances. Julia could thus be seen by the world to be somebody, and not merely a headline. It was only when the world heard Julia’s story that the final DNA proof that Julia was not Madeleine McCann was released by Dr. Johansson and the team.
If it were not for the efforts of Dr. Johansson, things could have turned even more tragically. If her forensic knowledge was never used, Julia would most likely have been spirited away to the UK by people who wanted to use her for their ends. The McCann family, who were suffering unimaginable distress, would have found themselves drawn into another unsubstantiated media storm. Conspiracy theories would have gone into overdrive, with the truth buried forever under mounds of disinformation.
Even to the present year 2025, the implications of this case persist, but because of Dr. Johansson, the damage was lessened. She continues to work hard to ensure the McCann family and all other vulnerable people are never exploited by the media again. Her work is not to crack cases; it’s to uphold ethical justice at the moment when truth stands the most chance to be the first victim to the excesses of sensationalism.