Case 58
Shannon Matthews
Case 58
Shannon Matthews
It was a school morning, and for once Shannon Matthews had something to look forward to. Her fourth-year class had their first swimming lesson that day, and she had been looking forward to it for ages. Despite the freezing room, she crawled out and sleepily climbed down the ladder to get ready.
It didn’t take Shannon long to remember the argument she’d had with her mother Karen Matthews and her step dad Craig Meehan, the night before. They’d got into it, and Shannon had sworn at Craig.
That morning, Shannon got dressed in her Westmoor Junior School black jumper, white cotton t-shirt and black trousers. She pulled on her favourite rain boots, they were bright pink with grey fur around the edges. She picked up her swimming bag and a blue striped towel and then walked out of her room.
By the time Shannon was ready to leave at 8 am, her mother Karen was up, and the argument started up again. Karen shouted at Shannon as she left for school: “Get out of the house and don’t come back.”
School mornings were busy on the Moorside Council Estate in West Yorkshire, England, with many of the 220 estate homes having kids rushing out the door at 8 am. The temperature was barely over freezing as Shannon started her half mile walk to school. When she saw her cousins further down Moorside Road, she told them about what her mum had said when she was leaving. It was nothing new.
That morning would be the last time Shannon Mathews would ever walk out of her home on the Moorside Estate. It would be the last time she would ever attend Westmoor Junior, and it would be the last time that any of her friends saw her.
________
Our episodes deal with serious and often distressing incidents. If you feel at anytime you need support, please contact your local crisis centre. Some suggestions for confidential support for men, women and children:
AUSTRALIA:
Lifeline Crisis Support: 13 11 14
Beyond Blue: Depression and anxiety support: 1300 22 46 36
Rape & Domestic Violence Services: 1800 737 732
Men's Line: 1300 78 99 78
Headspace: Youth Mental Health Foundation: see headspace.org.au for your local centre
USA:
Distress & Lifeline: 1800 273 8255
Crisis Text Line: text HOME to 741 741
Domestic Violence Helpline: 1800 799 7233
Victim Connect: support for victims of crime: 855 484 2846
UK:
Mind: mental health support: 0300 123 3393
SANE: mental health support: 0300 304 7000
Samaritans support network: 116 123
National Stalking Helpline: 0808 802 0300
CANADA:
For a list of Canadian crisis centres: https://thelifelinecanada.ca/help/call/
NEW ZEALAND:
Lifeline: 0800 543354
Depression Helpline: 0800 111 757 (Text 4202)
CREDITS
NARRATION:
Episode narrated by the Anonymous Host
EPISODE:
Episode researched and written by Anna Priestland
MUSIC:
‘Flatline intro’ and ‘Come play with me’ intro and outro www.dl-sounds.com
All other music and audio clean up performed by Mike Migas and Andrew Joslyn
OTHER:
Logo design by Paulina Szymanska
RESOURCES
BOOKS:
Shannon Matthews – betrayed from birth – Rose Martin
VIDEOS:
Shannon Matthews: What Happened Next
AUDIO:
ARTICLES:
Dewsbury Moor West Riding – Vision of Britain
Shannon Matthews timeline in pictures: the search, the trial and the evidence – The Telegraph
Missing girl: mother’s 999 call released – The Guardian
Missing Shannon pleaded to uncle the night before she disappeared: ‘Please let me stay’ – Evening Standard
Shannon Matthews disappearance ‘breaking family apart’ – The Telegraph
Man arrested after missing schoolgirl Shannon Matthews is found ALIVE under a bed – Evening Standard
After 24 days, the sound of footsteps then a policeman’s shout: ‘We’ve got her’ – The Guardian
Man charged with kidnap of Shannon – The Guardian
Shannon’s kidnappers: Karen Matthews and Michael Donovan – The Guardian
FOUND: Shannon Matthews – Express
Man held after missing Shannon Matthews found alive – Independent
Shannon’s mother sobs as she denies involvement in kidnap conspiracy – The Guardian
Shannon Matthews trial: Oddball loner Michael Donovan and the ‘Child on Board’ car sticker – The Telegraph
Shannon Matthews trial: The ‘pure evil’ of Mother Karen Matthews – The Telegraph
Shannon Matthews: The kidnap hoax that shocked the UK – BBC News
BLOG:
Tears, Lies and Videotape – Gerry McCann’s blog
THIS EPISODE’S SPONSORS
The Disappearance of Natalee Holloway – New Oxygen crime series
Blue Apron – 3 meals free + free shipping
It was a school morning, and for once Shannon Matthews had something to look forward to. Her fourth-year class had their first swimming lesson that day, and she had been looking forward to it for ages. Despite the freezing room, she crawled out and sleepily climbed down the ladder to get ready.
It didn’t take Shannon long to remember the argument she’d had with her mother Karen Matthews and her stepdad Craig Meehan, the night before. They’d got into it, and Shannon had sworn at Craig.
That morning, Shannon got dressed in her Westmoor Junior School black jumper, white cotton t-shirt and black trousers. She pulled on her favourite rain boots, they were bright pink with grey fur around the edges. She picked up her swimming bag and a blue striped towel and then walked out of her room.
By the time Shannon was ready to leave at 8 am, her mother Karen was up, and the argument started up again. Karen shouted at Shannon as she left for school: “Get out of the house and don’t come back.”
School mornings were busy on the Moorside Council Estate in West Yorkshire, England, with many of the 220 estate homes having kids rushing out the door at 8 am. The temperature was barely over freezing as Shannon started her half mile walk to school. When she saw her cousins further down Moorside Road, she told them about what her mum had said when she was leaving. It was nothing new.
That morning would be the last time Shannon Mathews would ever walk out of her home on the Moorside Estate. It would be the last time she would ever attend Westmoor Junior, and it would be the last time that any of her friends saw her.
______
Our episodes deal with serious and often distressing incidents. If you feel at anytime you need support, please contact your local crisis centre. Some suggestions for confidential support for men, women and children:
AUSTRALIA:
Lifeline Crisis Support: 13 11 14
Beyond Blue: Depression and anxiety support: 1300 22 46 36
Rape & Domestic Violence Services: 1800 737 732
Men's Line: 1300 78 99 78
Headspace: Youth Mental Health Foundation: see headspace.org.au for your local centre
USA:
Distress & Lifeline: 1800 273 8255
Crisis Text Line: text HOME to 741 741
Domestic Violence Helpline: 1800 799 7233
Victim Connect: support for victims of crime: 855 484 2846
UK:
Mind: mental health support: 0300 123 3393
SANE: mental health support: 0300 304 7000
Samaritans support network: 116 123
National Stalking Helpline: 0808 802 0300
CANADA:
For a list of Canadian crisis centres: https://thelifelinecanada.ca/help/call
NEW ZEALAND:
Lifeline: 0800 543354
Depression Helpline: 0800 111 757 (Text 4202)
CREDITS
NARRATION:
Episode narrated by the Anonymous Host
EPISODE:
Episode researched and written by Anna Priestland
MUSIC:
‘Flatline intro’ and ‘Come play with me’ intro and outro www.dl-sounds.com
All other music and audio clean up performed by Mike Migas and Andrew Joslyn
OTHER:
Logo design by Paulina Szymanska
RESOURCES
BOOKS:
Shannon Matthews – betrayed from birth – Rose Martin
VIDEOS:
Shannon Matthews: What Happened Next
AUDIO:
ARTICLES:
Dewsbury Moor West Riding – Vision of Britain
Shannon Matthews timeline in pictures: the search, the trial and the evidence – The Telegraph
Missing girl: mother’s 999 call released – The Guardian
Missing Shannon pleaded to uncle the night before she disappeared: ‘Please let me stay’ – Evening Standard
Shannon Matthews disappearance ‘breaking family apart’ – The Telegraph
Man arrested after missing schoolgirl Shannon Matthews is found ALIVE under a bed – Evening Standard
After 24 days, the sound of footsteps then a policeman’s shout: ‘We’ve got her’ – The Guardian
Man charged with kidnap of Shannon – The Guardian
Shannon’s kidnappers: Karen Matthews and Michael Donovan – The Guardian
FOUND: Shannon Matthews – Express
Man held after missing Shannon Matthews found alive – Independent
Shannon’s mother sobs as she denies involvement in kidnap conspiracy – The Guardian
Shannon Matthews trial: Oddball loner Michael Donovan and the ‘Child on Board’ car sticker – The Telegraph
Shannon Matthews trial: The ‘pure evil’ of Mother Karen Matthews – The Telegraph
Shannon Matthews: The kidnap hoax that shocked the UK – BBC News
BLOG:
Tears, Lies and Videotape – Gerry McCann’s blog
THIS EPISODE’S SPONSORS
The Disappearance of Natalee Holloway – New Oxygen crime series
Blue Apron – 3 meals free + free shipping
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