An American woman, alleging to be the long-lost missing daughter of a British individual, has announced plans to journey 3,500 miles to undergo a DNA test. Heather McCord, accused of potential fraud by ex-sergeant major Richard Lee, whose daughter Katrice Lee vanished in Paderborn, Germany in 1981 on her second birthday, initiated a GoFundMe campaign seeking financial support for her trip aimed at establishing her connection to the Lee family. Despite Richard discrediting her assertions as false and exploiting the family’s tragedy for deceptive purposes, McCord remains resolute in her decision to proceed with the DNA test and present her supporting evidence, regardless of public opinion.
Natasha Walker, Richard’s daughter, was among the first to discover the controversial GoFundMe page after it was reported on missing persons’ platforms. Expressing his anger towards the situation, Richard emphasized the implausibility of McCord’s claims, citing red flags such as recalling events from being trafficked as a two-year-old, a scenario he deemed highly unlikely. In a TikTok video from November of the previous year, McCord alleged that she had been abducted as a child, mentioning fragments of traumatic memories from the incident, describing it as more terrifying than a horror movie.
McCord further contends that her condition of xoforia, characterized by one eye drifting outward, serves as evidence of her identity as Katrice. In contrast, Richard’s daughter suffered from strabismus, an eye condition necessitating corrective surgeries. Despite her assertions, McCord’s GoFundMe initiative raised $217 (£160) before being removed from the platform due to controversy.
Acknowledging the skepticism surrounding her claims, McCord empathetically stated, “I empathize with the Lee family’s suspicions considering their challenging experiences. My sole intention is to uncover my true identity, and should the DNA test prove otherwise, I will respect their wishes for no further contact.” The Lee family has encountered numerous misleading claims over the years since Katrice’s disappearance in the 1980s.
A spokesperson from the Defence Serious Crime Command confirmed that an individual had made baseless claims regarding being Katrice, urging anyone with credible information about Katrice’s disappearance to contact the DSCC Major Crime Team at 0800 616 888.
