Posted on 03/14/2008 3:23:53 PM PDT by UKrepublican
Shannon Found Alive After 24 Days
Shannon Matthews has been found alive just a mile from her home after one of the UK's biggest police searches. The schoolgirl was discovered hidden in a bed base at the flat of a man related to her stepfather, say Sky News Online sources.
Police smashed their way into a flat in Lidgate Gardens in the Batley Carr area of Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, and emerged carrying Shannon.
A 39-year-old man was arrested at the address on suspicion of abduction.
The man is known to police and is "remotely related" to Shannon's stepfather Craig Meehan, according to Sky sources.
The nine-year-old - who vanished after a swimming trip on February 19 - was found "concealed" in the base of a divan bed.
She is now the subject of a police protection order.
Neighbours said the young girl looked "quite calm" and officers confirmed she was okay as she was brought out.
Resident Mandy Dixon, 37, said: "I couldn't see Shannon's face - she was covered up. She was clinging to the officer for dear life."
She said the suspect was then "dragged" out of the property and into a waiting vehicle.
"He wasn't walking, he was just limp. There were two men on either side of him. They were dragging him."
Another local resident, who did not want to give her name, said: "One of my neighbours heard banging.
"When he went outside, police were breaking the door down - the man wouldn't come out so they broke in. Apparently they found her in bed."
The neighbour believed the man who occupied the flat lived alone and had children who had been taken into care.
She added: "We haven't seen him for two or three years. But apparently he's come back."
The woman who lives downstairs from him became suspicious after hearing footsteps, she said.
And charity Missing People said it recently contacted police after being told Shannon might be in Lidgate Gardens.
But detectives said they attended the address "as part of an ongoing investigation".
Earlier reports claimed the little girl was found hiding under a bed in her grandparents' home.
The youngster has been taken to a police station where she will be reunited with her mother Karen Matthews, 32, who is said by a friend to be "shocked and overwhelmed".
Shannon's father Leon Rose said he never gave up hope of seeing his daughter alive and being reunited with her will be like "winning the lottery".
Former Scotland Yard detective, Mike Hames, told Sky the police "always thought she was being kept away from home by someone that knows her".
"It is quite rare that you would find a child alive after all this time," he added.
Great news!!!
Fantastic result and well done to the police.
There unfortunately was some controversy stirred up by this case as some were asking if the search was given the proper urgency due to Samantha’s working class background.
Excellent news - thanks for posting! That poor little girl - I can only imagine what will surface in the next week.
Amen!
I am so happy that she’s alive. They should NOT be giving her to her mother, though. According to articles I’ve read, step dad abused the poor girl, and mom did nothing about it.
Wonderful news, I’m glad you posted this! We don’t often see a missing child has been found after this long!
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