Shannon Matthews: The Psychic, The Reward, The Ex-Wife, The Kinky Sex, The Speculation
SHANNON WATCH: – Anorak’s at-a-glance guide to press coverage of Shannon Matthews
SUNDAY EXPRESS: “WHY WAS SHANNON LAUGHING?”
POLICE want to examine the exact nature of the relationship between Shannon Matthews and the man who is suspected of abducting her.
The mystery of how she came to be found hiding under a bed in a shabby upstairs flat with her stepfather’s uncle, Paul Drake, is now the key focus of their investigation.
In a shock twist last night, it emerged that neighbours of Drake have told police that they heard the youngster laughing and joking with him.
SUNDAY PEOPLE: “FAMILY TANGLE WILL BE PROBED”
John Stalker Former police chief takes a break from advertising garage doors to address the matter of missing children
Former police chief JOHN STALKER believes Shannon’s return may lead to further shock revelations. He suspects cops may be focus on further family links with her stepdad Craig Meehan.
What has Craig Meehan done? He says nothing. He has not been arrested. So why single him out? Not that the article even mentions him, his name only appearing in the teaser.
I was convinced that they were purposefully un-picking Shannon’s family relationships. At the same time they were conducting a large-scale conventional search in case she had died accidentally or was lost. But at no time did they seriously extend their interest outside of Dewsbury, despite the town lying close to the M1 and M62. This tells me they knew more than they were saying. A clearer picture will soon emerge of what took place.
In the meanwhile, let’s speculate…
What happened while Shannon was with Donovan? Did she go voluntarily? He was no stranger to her. Most importantly, was her divan drawer hiding place part of a game to keep her away from others she wished to escape from? The arrest of a family member throws up difficult questions about whether others were involved.
Let’s have a heated debate…
Police must seriously examine whether family connivance may be a feature. Large cash rewards are often available for the return of a missing child, such as in the Madeleine McCann inquiry. In Shannon’s case, the money on offer will undoubtedly have tempted some to make fraudulent claims. A shrewd investigator will know that.
BAFFLED COPS probe extraordinary new Shannon theory.. WAS IT A HOAX?
Dunno? Was it?
The disappearance and miraculous return of troubled schoolgirl Shannon Matthews was being investigated as a possible HOAX last night. Cops are working on one startling theory that the hapless nine-year-old could have been the victim of an extraordinary scam.
The scared youngster, who was found trembling at the home of loner Mick Donovan, 39, on Friday, had been the subject of a £50,000 reward for her safe return. Police are also considering the possibility that Shannon ran away from home in Dewsbury, West Yorks, because she was so unhappy.
A third line of inquiry is that the vulnerable youngster was abducted.
Only three?
What does Mr Stalker think?
The money-making scam theory was backed up by former top cop John Stalker. He told The People: “The arrest of a family member throws up difficult questions. Distasteful as it will be, police must seriously examine whether connivance in a manufactured disappearance of Shannon may be a feature.
Says he: “The Madeleine McCann case and the massive funds it raised will not have gone unnoticed by less scrupulous people.”
Or John Stalker…
SUNDAY PEOPLE: “’I asked if they knew a man named Michael..’
SCHOOLGIRL BACK HOME BUT MYSTERY OF HER DISAPPEARANCE DEEPENS THE PSYCHIC”
A TV psychic’s three amazing predictions about the Shannon case have been proven true, The People can reveal.
Six days BEFORE the nine-year-old was found Joe Power came up with vital clues which could have led to her discovery.Joe, who has appeared on Living TV’s Psychic Investigators, told us he saw how: Shannon knew her abductor and was taken by a relative possibly named Michael or Paul…
Not John? Joe knows…
Joe told The People yesterday: “I am so relieved that Shannon has been found and that she is safe. I hope police will listen to me on future cases.”
Here’s hoping…
SUNDAY MAIL: “Mum: My Tears Of Joy”
Says Karen Matthews: “When I first saw Shannon again I was overwhelmed – I just couldn’t stop crying, knowing she’s back where she belongs and she’s safe. I never gave up hope and now she’ll be able to come home and sleep in her room again. We’ve got her new pink bedding which she’ll love.
“The police have helped a lot. We can’t thank them enough.”
Karen said the support from the local community had been “fantastic”. She added: “We’re just happy to be a family again. That’s all we’ve wanted – Shannon back and safe.”
Karen, wearing a striped jumper, looked weary as she turned back to the house.
Them are the facts. More on her shoes, sock and coat later. For a full analysis of Karen Matthews outfit see ‘Distrught Mum Chic” in the style section.
SUNDAY MIRROR:” VOICE OF THE SUNDAY Mirror: She’s safe at last.. but what went wrong?”
The long delay in finding Shannon hopefully will not have a lasting effect on her. But it should lead to a major inquiry to discover what went wrong.
And to learn what can be done to stop it ever happening again.How long can the Mirror keep the story going for?
STAR ON SUNDAY: “SHANNON: MY STORY”
An exclusive interview with Shannon?
Surrounded by toys, children’s books and her favourite food and drinks, Shannon began “opening up” yesterday afternoon about what happened to her after she was last seen on February 19.
She had earlier been given a kitten to play with and watched kids’ films on DVD during her first evening of freedom.
No, not by the Star but by the police.
NEWS OF THE WORLD: “Shannon man’s vile sex secrets”
Well, it is Sunday…
The ex-wife of Shannon Matthews’ kidnap suspect has revealed he secretly fantasised about sex with children.
In an exclusive interview Sue Bird told how Mick Donovan’s sick lust was sensationally exposed when horrified teachers found graphic sex notes he’d put in his own DAUGHTER’S lunch box.
He was then BARRED from seeing 12-year-old Jane and sister Mary, aged 10, but SNATCHED them from council care and hid away with them in Blackpool for three days.
Why he was barred from seeing them we are not told. Much though is inferred.
Sue said: “On top of that he used to force me to dress up as a schoolgirl for sex. That’s why none of this is a surprise to me. He’s actually kidnapped before, just 18 months ago. This man is a real nasty piece of work.”
And:
“He had a ferocious temper and it gave him superhuman strength.”
Eu!
“He was always interested in changing the girls’ nappies. He delighted in it and took ages over it. It used to make my skin crawl.”
SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: “Police were tipped off a week before they raided Shannon Matthews flat”
Mr Donovan’s neighbour, Melvin Glew, said that around midday on March 8 he rang the Missing People charity’s number, printed on hundreds of posters displayed around the town urging people to find the missing nine-year-old.
Mr Glew had grown suspicious of Mr Donovan, whose flat was 100 yards from his. He told The Sunday Telegraph: “He was always very strange, but from the moment Shannon went missing he began to act very suspiciously.”
Mr Glew’s fears had been sparked by his knowledge of his neighbour’s troubled family life. Mr Donovan, 39, was said to have been deeply upset when his former wife won a bitter dispute for custody of their two daughters.
But what persuaded Mr Glew to act was an incident a week ago, in which a man tried to visit Mr Donovan after arriving in a car with “Find Shannon” posters in the windows.
Mr Donovan did not answer the door, although Mr Glew was sure he was in. Mr Glew, 62, a forklift driver, said: “I was dead suspicious. I rang the helpline number and said it would be a good idea if the police got into his house and had a look.
“I gave them his address but nobody got back to me and I heard nothing more. I was really surprised it took them this long to get round to searching his place. Thank God they did.”
Mr Glew is not the only person to have alerted the authorities to their suspicions. Ryan Baynes, a father of two, called police shortly after Shannon’s disappearance to tell them Mr Donovan had behaved strangely at a family funeral six weeks earlier, bouncing Shannon on his knee and paying her “far too much attention”.
Detectives eventually switched their attention to Batley Carr five days ago, after another resident, Julie France, reported finding a white bag containing what is believed to have been Shannon’s swimming costume, worn on the day she went missing. Police visited Mr Donovan’s flat at 12.30pm on Friday.
Shannon Matthews in the media
Posted: 16th, March 2008 | In: Madeleine McCann, Tabloids Comments (576) | TrackBack | Permalink
