A police family liaison officer has revealed her growing suspicions about Karen Matthews during the investigation into her nine-year-old daughter Shannon's disappearance. Christine Freeman served as the primary police contact with the Matthews family and witnessed firsthand the deceptive behaviour that would later expose one of Britain's most notorious fake kidnapping plots.
Freeman described her initial sympathy for Matthews when Shannon vanished from the Moorside Estate in Dewsbury on February 19, 2008. The mother appeared as a grieving parent with blackened eyes from lack of sleep, supported only by boyfriend Craig Meehan and a few local friends.
The local community rallied magnificently to search for Shannon, though notably absent were Karen's close family members. Freeman's unique perspective forms the centrepiece of a new two-part Prime Video documentary examining the case.
Disturbing police statements
During police interviews, Karen made peculiar statements that began raising red flags for investigators. She told officers Shannon was "out there somewhere in a nice warm environment" but claimed the person holding her wasn't coming forward.
Freeman repeatedly warned Karen to prepare for the worst possible outcomes, but the mother seemed unable to grasp the potential dangers facing her child. The officer struggled to control her own emotions while trying to bring Karen "down to earth" about the gravity of the situation.
Mother's Day revelations
The turning point came during a Mother's Day press conference on March 2, 2008, when Karen made deeply disturbing comments. She suggested someone known to both her and Shannon had abducted the girl - the first time such a theory had been raised.
When Freeman questioned this claim afterwards, Karen dismissed it casually, saying she didn't mean anybody in particular. The officer found Karen's contradictory behaviour increasingly troubling as the investigation progressed.
The elaborate deception unravels
Shannon was discovered on March 14, 2008, hidden in the base of a bed at Michael Donovan's property after being drugged with sedatives. Donovan was arrested at the scene, and the elaborate kidnapping scheme quickly fell apart.
The plot involved Karen Matthews and Donovan, who was the uncle of Karen's boyfriend Craig Meehan. Both received eight-year prison sentences for kidnapping, false imprisonment and perverting the course of justice after attempting to claim £50,000 in reward money.
Donovan died of cancer last year, while Shannon was placed in emergency care by social services and given a new identity following the traumatic ordeal. The Hunt for Shannon Matthews premieres on Prime Video in the UK and Ireland on Sunday, August 17.
Sources used: "PA Media", "Yorkshire Evening Post", "Mirror" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
