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Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Karen Matthews' odd 'intimacy' with toyboy lover that 'concerned' detectives
Karen Matthews became one of the most hated women in Britain when it was revealed she had known where her missing daughter Shannon was all along - we take a look at her odd love match Shannon Matthews was just nine years old when she was reported missing. The search for the schoolgirl from Dewsbury, West Yorks who was last seen on February 19, 2008, sparked a huge police investigation. The tight knit community in the town's Moorside Estate rallied round Shannon's mother Karen Matthews, who tearfully pleaded to the cameras: "Let Shannon go". But Matthews' distraught appearance was a facade - the evil mum had planned Shannon's kidnapping with Michael Donovan, the uncle of her then partner Craig Meehan. The sick plot was a ruse to make money from the publicity but instead, Matthews was found out and later jailed for eight years for kidnap, false imprisonment and perverting the course of justice. Now a new documentary has taken a deep dive into one of the most high-profile police investigations in recent history, with startling revelations emerging about key players in the case. When Shannon went missing her mother, then 32, was living with Meehan, 22 and her police liaison officer found their relationship concerning. "There were times that I was concerned for Karen," said retired detective Christine Freeman. "I think it wasn't easy for her with Craig, he was like having another child but also he was quite controlling of her. She never seemed able able to stand up and say what she wanted to do." Journalist Richard Edwards was a local reporter on the Yorkshire Evening Post when the news broke of Shannon's disappearance. He was invited into the home of Matthews and described her relationship with Meehan as "awkward". "The relationship between Craig and Karen, it was not one of obvious warmth or intimacy in any way," he said. "They appeared to be quite awkward around each other, it was almost like two unusual people who just happened to find themselves in each other's orbit for reasons unknown. They didn't even appear to really like each other." Meehan proposed to Matthews following her arrest. He was not involved in Shannon's kidnapping and never charged with any offence relating to her. The ex-supermarket fishmonger was later convicted for possessing images of child abuse and sentenced to 20 weeks in jail. It was reported this week he had been driven out of his home in Huddersfield, West Yorks, after graffiti was sprayed on the exterior wall calling him a paedophile. Matthews was released from prison in 2012 after serving half of her sentence. Donovan, who was also jailed for eight years his part in the twisted kidnap plot, died last year in hospital, aged 54. The Hunt for Shannon Matthews will be available on Prime Video in The UK & Ireland from Monday, August 17
Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Chilling moment Shannon Matthews' mum pleads ‘bring her home' while hiding dark secret
The disturbing case is the subject of a new Prime Video documentary A shocking kidnapping case is the subject of a new Prime Video documentary released this week. Nine-year-old Shannon Matthews went missing in February 2008 as she walked home, sparking a 24-day search for her. The hunt was the largest conducted by West Yorkshire Police since their search for the Yorkshire Ripper, with the police investigation alone costing the force £3.2m. In a horrifying twist in the story, it emerged that Shannon's mother Karen Matthews and her partner in crime Michael Donovan had staged the kidnapping in order to claim the £50,000 reward for finding the girl. The Hunt for Shannon Matthews is released on Sunday this week (August 17) and revisits the chilling case 17 years on. READ MORE: Shannon Matthews' kidnapper Mick Donovan's cause of death and shameless lies he told until the end Shannon was eventually found by police imprisoned and drugged in the base of a divan bed in Michael's flat while the ruse played out. She had also been restrained by a homemade lead. While her daughter was still missing, Karen gave an impromptu press release outside of her house in which she pleaded for Shannon's safe return, all while knowing exactly where she was. Footage of the chilling moment is shown in the upcoming documentary. In it, Karen can be seen bleary-eyed and looking distraught as she tells cameras: "Please come home Shannon if you're out there come home. If anybody's got my daughter, my beautiful princess daughter please bring her home safe." Karen, then aged 33, and Michael, aged 40 at the time, were found guilty of kidnap, false imprisonment and perverting the course of justice. They were each jailed for eight years for their crimes, which the judge called "truly despicable." He said: "It is impossible to conceive how you could have found it in you to put this young girl through the ordeal that you inflicted upon her." When her mother was on trial, it was revealed that following the kidnapping, Shannon suffered from frequent nightmares and required psychotherapy sessions. Michael died in April 2024 at the age of 54, while Karen was released from prison in 2012. Meanwhile Shannon was placed into care with her siblings and given a new identity.
