The Moorside: How long was Shannon Matthews missing for? Where is she now?
THE MOORSIDE tells the harrowing story of the Shannon Matthews kidnapping. But where is Shannon Matthews now?
Moorside episode two concludes story of Shannon Matthews
The new BBC drama recounts how Shannon was kidnapped by her mother Karen as means of gaining publicity and a £50,000 reward.
Karen and her accomplice Michael Donovan were both jailed for eight years after they were found guilty of kidnapping, false imprisonment and perverting the course of justice.
Shannon, then aged nine, had been drugged and hidden in a house belonging to Michael, the uncle of Karen’s partner Craig Meehan.
How long was Shannon Matthews missing for?
Shannon was missing for a total of 24 days.
Before her disappearance she was last seen outside of her school, Westmoor Junior, on February 19, 2008 at around 3.10pm. She was reported missing by Karen on the same day.
West Yorkshire Police deployed more than 200 officers to join the search within just 24 hours.
By March 5 more than 250 officers and 60 detectives were involved around 10 per cent of the total force.
Shannon Matthews was missing for 24 days
Sheridan Smith stars as a friends of Karen Matthews
Around 200 people from the Moorside estate and the surrounding areas also volunteered to help with the search.
Shannon was eventually found on March 14 hidden in a divan bed base in Michael’s house.
Michael was arrested at the scene and Karen was arrested on April 6.
The operation cost over £2.5 million and was the largest missing persons search since the Yorkshire Ripper investigation 30 years previously.
Karen Matthews was sentenced to eight years in prison
Michael Donovan was also sentenced to eight years
Where is Shannon Matthews now?
Shannon was placed into police custody immediately after she was found at Michael’s house. She was later put into social care and given a new
identity.
Now aged 18, Shannon lives with a new family. Her grandparents June and Gordon Matthews recently told the Daily Mail that they had seen a picture of Shannon and she looks “beautiful”.
A special order prevents anyone from contacting Shannon or revealing her location.
Karen’s six other children were also placed into care and given new identities.