Shannon Matthews

About Shannon Matthews

In February 2008, a youngster went missing from her West Yorkshire home as part of a mother-planned kidnapping ruse.

On February 19, 2008, Shannon Louise Matthews, a nine year old girl, was reported missing in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, England. Finding her becomes a major police operation Missing has been compared to the disappearance of Madeleine McCann. Shannon was found alive and well on March 14, 2008 in a Batley Carr home owned by 39-year-old Michael Donovan. Donovan is the uncle of Craig Meehan, the boyfriend of the mother of the kidnapped girl, Karen Matthews. The kidnapping is planned by Karen and Donovan to earn money from the public. Donovan - also known as Paul Drake - eventually "found" Shannon, took her to the police station and asked for the bounty, which would be shared between Donovan and the child's mother. Donovan was charged with kidnapping and imprisonment. Karen was charged with Child Neglect and Exploitation of Justice on April 8, 2008 .

Charges	Abduction, false imprisonment (Donovan), Child neglect, perverting the course of justice (Matthews)
Sentence	8 years
Date	2008-02-19 – 2008-03-14 (2008-02-19 – 2008-03-14)
Convictions	Abduction, false imprisonment, perverting the course of justice
Accused	Michael Donovan, Karen Matthews
Trial	2008-11-11 – 2008-12-04 (2008-11-11 – 2008-12-04)
Verdict	Guilty

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Trivia

Her missing persons case was initially compared to that of Madeleine McCann, the British girl who had disappeared in 2007 while on vacation with her family in Portugal.

Shannon Matthews before fame

She was a pupil at Westmoor Junior School at the time of her disappearance.

Achievement of Shannon Matthews

Her situation was first compared to that of Madeleine McCann, a British girl who went missing in Portugal while on vacation with her family in 2007.

Salary 2020

Not known

Net Worth 2020

Undisclosed

Shannon Matthews family life

Her mother, Karen Matthews, and a friend, Michael Donovan, staged the kidnapping in exchange for a monetary reward. Donovan"found" Shannon (at his home) in March 2008 and escorted her to the police station.

Associations of Shannon Matthews

Her kidnapping was staged, but she was retrieved and safely returned (and subsequent protection by British social services). Elizabeth Smart, an American girl, was also found safe following a genuine kidnapping in Utah.

Shannon Matthews Height, Weight & Physique Measurements

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