A former family liaison officer for West Yorkshire Police has shared her insights into Karen Matthews and what she was really like for a new documentary that airs today (August 17)
A woman who served as family liaison officer to Karen Matthews following her nine-year-old daughter Shannon’s disappearance has disclosed what the infamous mum was really like away from the public eye.
Shannon vanished from the Moorside Estate in Dewsbury on February 19, 2008, prompting the local community to unite in efforts to find the youngster. Christine Freeman, a former family liaison officer with West Yorkshire Police, remained alongside Karen throughout the investigation.
Reflecting on her first impressions on Amazon Prime, she explained: “The first thing as a family liaison officer when you go out to a house to meet a member of the family is really to try and put them at ease.
“When I walked into Karen and Craig’s house (her former boyfriend), Karen came across as a grieving mum. Her eyes were blackened underneath as if she had not slept.
“She did have my sympathy. Her support network consisted of Shannon’s stepdad Craig and a few friends locally. We didn’t see anything of Karen’s close family members but the community themselves came together magnificently.”
Christine’s unique perspective will feature in the fresh two-part Prime Video documentary The Hunt for Shannon Matthews, which premieres in the UK and Ireland on Sunday (August 17).
The programme examines Shannon’s 24-day disappearance, which was actually a kidnapping scheme devised by Karen and her boyfriend’s uncle, Michael Donovan. They concocted the despicable plot hoping to claim £50,000 in reward money.
The documentary saw Christine recount the peculiar statements Karen made to officers in the days following her daughter’s disappearance.
During one questioning session, she told detectives: “She is out there somewhere in a nice warm environment but the person who’s got her is not coming forward, which is what we’d like really.”
Reflecting on the guidance she offered Karen at the time, Christine revealed: “I constantly said to her, ‘Karen, we need to prepare for the worst.’ I don’t think Karen had any grasp at all of the possible dangers for her child. She just doesn’t seem aware of it. She didn’t seem willing to accept the possibility.
“It was hard to control your own emotions that you were feeling. But there will come a time where I will have to bring Karen really down to earth by telling her something terrible has happened to her daughter.”
Yet during a Mother’s Day press briefing on March 2, 2008, Karen disclosed to journalists that she felt she could no longer have faith in those surrounding her.
Recalling that shocking revelation, Christine explained: “It was during that press conference that she came out with some things that were quite disturbing really.”
Among her remarks was her belief that someone familiar to both her and Shannon had abducted her.
Christine disclosed: “That is the first time anything like that had been suggested. After that press conference, I have said, ‘What do you mean somebody who knows you?’
“She said, ‘Oh, just anybody.’ She kind of poo pooed it, brushed it off – ‘I don’t mean anybody in particular, I just mean somebody who might know us.'”
On 14 March 2008, Shannon, who had been drugged with sedatives, was discovered hidden in the base of a bed at Donovan’s house, leading to his immediate arrest.
Donovan, who succumbed to cancer last year, faced charges of kidnapping and false imprisonment before Karen eventually confessed to fabricating the entire ordeal.
Both were sentenced to eight years in prison after being convicted of kidnapping, false imprisonment and perverting the course of justice.
Shannon was given a new identity after being placed under emergency social services care.
The Hunt for Shannon Matthews will be available on Prime Video in The UK & Ireland on Sunday August 17
