What happened to Shannon Matthews? Shock disappearance masterminded by evil mum

dailystar.co.uk:

Shannon Matthews was the victim of a hoax kidnapping plot set up by her own mother Karen Matthews back in 2008. The story of the school girl - who was found alive - and her disappearance is the focus of Channel 5 documentary The Disappearance of Shannon Matthews.The documentary, which also features interviews with several people who knew the family - including Shannon's best friend at the time Megan Aldridge - as well as police officers who found Shannon, is available to stream via My5.Here's everything you need to know about what happened to Shannon Matthews.Shannon Matthews was reported as missing on February 19, 2008, after she vanished on her way home from a swimming lesson outside her school in Dewesbury, West Yorkshire.

An extensive inquiry began after her mother Karen Matthews contacted the police about her daughter, with a complaint that she had not returned home.

Karen made several public appeals in order to find her daughter, as hundreds of neighbours and friends joined the search bolstered by more than 250 officers and 60 detectives.On March 14, 24 days after she went missing, Shannon was found alive, hidden in the base of a divan bed in a house occupied by Michael Donovan, the uncle of Shannon's step-dad Craig Meehan.The youngster was discovered tethered and drugged at the base of the bed.

In a shocking twist, it was revealed that Shannon's mother Karen, who was dating Meehan, was behind the plot in a heartless bid to pocket the £50,000 police reward.Mum-of-seven Karen and Donovan were found guilty of kidnapping, false imprisonment and perverting the course of justice on December 4 2008.