An American woman, Heather McCord, claims to be Katrice Lee, a British toddler who vanished on her second birthday from an armed forces supermarket in Paderborn, West Germany, in 1981.

The $217 GoFundMe Gamble

McCord, from New York, previously started a GoFundMe page to raise money for travel to the UK, claiming she had spent the $217 raised on a flight to the UK. However, the page was closed down following complaints by Katrice's loved ones.

McCord claims she has been blocked from getting DNA tests in the United States by authorities and has now arrived in the UK to take a DNA test and prove her identity.

Exophoria and a Rash: The Claims of Katrice Lee

McCord claims to have a condition known as exophoria, where one eye drifts outwards, which she says confirms she is Katrice . She also claims to have a similar birthmark to Katrice's on her lower back, resembling a rash.

Katrice suffered from strabismus, a related eye condition which was severe enough that it would have needed two operations to correct.

Family Denounces McCord as a Hoaxer

Katrice's sister Natasha Walker and her father Richard have denouced McCord as a hoaxer who wants to gain attention and money out of their tragedy.

Natasha Walker has reported her concerns to the Royal Military Police, the investigating force in Katrice's case, and has blocked a member of The Search for Katrice Lee Facebook page who may have given McCord their addresses.

Failed Investigations and a 45-Year Mystery

The Royal Military Police has previously admitted to failures in its initial investigation into Katrice's disappearance.

No national borders were closed, leaving the family with a 45-year mystery which continues to this day.

Previous Scammers and the Royal Military Police

In 2014, Katrice's family was tormented by Donna Wright, from County Durham, who repeatedly harassed them with phone calls while on a suspended sentence for the same offence.

Another woman, named Heidi Robinson, pleaded guilty to a malicious communications offence in 2019 and was sentenced to 18 weeks in prison, suspended for two years, with a mental health treatment order.