SHANNON MATTHEWS 9 - Dewsbury, Yorkshire (UK) - 19/02/08

TINA*08

Thinking the same Shellington. I don't think its looking good for Shannon, I hope I'm wrong and she is just hiding out somewhere. :cry:

RAINEYCHA

claire* wrote:Thinking the same Shellington. I don't think its looking good for Shannon, I hope I'm wrong and she is just hiding out somewhere.

there is always hope guys. do you remember the 2 girls who were abducted from Hastings and found in Eastbourne about a week later at a known paedo's house? they found them about 30 seconds walk from my house, which is really creepy! but they were found alive and well. we can only hope and pray. xxx

SINBADTHESAILOR

That's awful Rainey.

You know we all watch these stories on the telly, but somehow they only become reality, when things like this happen on your doorstep.
It would give you and odd feeling, wouldn't it?

ann x

TAMSIN

IMO the police have a good idea of who is involved in Shannon's disappearance.
There are similarities between this case and the Soham murders;
If any of you remember back to the Sohamn days,the police were saying that the clues are very close to home, the answer is very close,

Just the same here, they are convinced that the clues are in Dewsbury.

God bless Shannon and all missing children.

HEIDISTAR

raineycha wrote:

claire* wrote:Thinking the same Shellington. I don't think its looking good for Shannon, I hope I'm wrong and she is just hiding out somewhere.

there is always hope guys. do you remember the 2 girls who were abducted from hastings and found in eastbourne about a week later at a known paedo's house. they found them about 30 seconds walk from my house, which is really creepy! but they were found alive and well. we can only hope and pray. xxx

Rainey, I remember those two girls, there is a programme on TV, I think ITV, on Thursday at 9 o'clock about them!

Merly, that's wonderful of you if you are willing to go and help search the moors, it's such an important thing to do and yet probably frightening and upsetting at the same time.

I think the police have been wonderful with all the searching they have been doing, it sounds like they have been extremely thorough and I am confident they will continue searching until she is found.

It doesn't sound good though, I agree. Claire, that thought had crossed my mind - children are told not to go off with a stranger but of course many 'abuse' occurrences are by someone the child knows.

Of course it might not be him yet, but it does sound like the police search if focussing on his flat quite a bit.

EWE 2

Times Online

February 26, 2008

Missing Shannon case linked to previous kidnap attempt

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article3439093.ece

HEIDISTAR

The Daily Mail

Last updated at 17:14pm on 26th February 2008

Police search house of missing Shannon's uncle as detectives treat case 'as seriously as a murder'

http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=516706&in_page_id=1770

I feel a bit mean now after saying the stepdad's tickling games made me feel a bit uneasy the other day.

I'll tell you all the reason why. It is because when you get cases like these, it often turns out to have some involvement with someone who we have heard about on the news or in newspaper articles, eg Ian Huntley and Tracie Andrews; I think there was a mention that this is why Robert Murat was deemed suspicious. It is almost as if the person hangs around the crime scene wanting to find out what is going on!

Poor Shannon, I would have thought she would have been found by now if she had run away, especially as she has been described as 'timid' and afraid of the dark.

TINA*08

heidistar wrote:http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=516706&in_page_id=1770

Daily Mail - uncle's house is being searched.

I feel a bit mean now after saying the stepdad's tickling games made me feel a bit uneasy the other day.

I'll tell you all the reason why. It is because when you get cases like these, it often turns out to have some involvement with someone who we have heard about on the news or in newspaper articles, eg Ian Huntley and Tracie Andrews; I think there was a mention that this is why Robert Murat was deemed suspicious. It is almost as if the person hangs around the crime scene wanting to find out what is going on!

Poor Shannon, I would have thought she would have been found by now if she had run away, especially as she has been described as 'timid' and afraid of the dark.

I dont get a good feeling about this story to be honest.. I am with you Heidi. I dont believe the abduction attempt though, i just think its a big coincidence that it was round that time and the same town...i dont know anymore, we are hearing so much and literally being bombarded wiht one negative story after another :cry:

HEIDISTAR

Hi Claire,

Regarding the abduction attempt, I wouldn't think it would be too hard to trace a Gold Ford Mondeo. I don't think I've ever seen a gold one!

I don't know what to think really, it sounds as if the Police think it is someone very local, I'm sure a gold Mondeo would have been noticed, but maybe not...

TINA*08

Wouldnt someone had seen something though, not one person has seen anything, unless it was in the morning when it all was quiet the next morning after everyone went into school, apparently someone said they thought they saw her the next morning near the school??

The one thing i still think about is she wanted to run away and went the opposite direction to her friends, so hopefully fingers crossd she is still hiding out safe, but I'm sure the elements would have been against her with this if outside as its been freezing!! :cry:

HEIDISTAR

I agree Claire, I would have thought someone would have seen something, especially if there were people about going home from school.

Like you say, she walked off in the opposite direction. I wonder whether she was going to meet someone, in which case it would have to be someone she knew. Maybe the Police are thinking this too?

I thought it was horrible reading that she was upset at school that day. Maybe she was going to meet someone but didn't really want to, i.e they had asked or told her to meet them?

HOPE4MADDY

This is all so sad!

HIPPY

Sky news

Updated:16:15, Tuesday February 26, 2008

Grave Concerns For Missing Shannon

http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30100-1306911,00.html

This is London

Last updated at 23:07pm on 26.02.08

Police search house of missing Shannon's uncle as detectives treat case 'as seriously as a murder'

http://tinyurl.com/2kcy22

twiglet wrote:This is London

Last updated at 23:07pm on 26.02.08

Police search house of missing Shannon's uncle as detectives treat case 'as seriously as a murder'

http://tinyurl.com/2kcy22

Does anyone else think that is really bad of the media to put that 'seriously as a murder' they must have come across evidence surely to go for it being murder as so far they haven't reported about anything being found in relation to her at all. She may well have arranged it with a friend to hide out there.

Heidi - Yeah she might have been meeting someone after school, but I don't know, I think the whole thing is weird again, yet again ANOTHER child just disappears off the face of the earth, no evidence or anyone seen anything! :? :cry:

TEZZA

The Daily Express

Monday February 25,2008

By Ian Key

THE TORMENT OF MISSING GIRL’S MOTHER

http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/36009/The-torment-of-missing-girl-s-mother

HIPPY

BBC News

27/2/2008

Missing girl police stop drivers

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/bradford/7267089.stm

HIPPY

Huddersfield Examiner

28/2/2008

More fears for missing Shannon

http://www.examiner.co.uk/news/local-west-yorkshire-news/2008/02/28/more-fears-for-missing-shannon-86081-20534710/

TINA*08

Yorkshire Evening Post

29th February 2008

By Richard Edwards

SEARCH FOR SHANNON: 'All I want is my best friend back home safe'

http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/SEARCH-FOR-SHANNON-39All-I.3830515.jp

Hope I done that right!

HOPE4MADDY

The Guardian

28th February 2008

Police question 1,500 motorists in hunt for schoolgirl

More than 1,500 motorists have been stopped and questioned in the hunt for the missing Yorkshire schoolgirl Shannon Matthews, police said today.

The news came as the search for the nine-year-old entered its second week.

Officers questioned the motorists yesterday as police launched a major publicity drive a week after Shannon failed to her home in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, from school.

Detectives spoke to motorists at five locations near to where Shannon was last seen, as well as putting up large electronic boards appealing for information from the public.

Officers were preparing to visit more than 2,000 houses in the Dewsbury area.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2008/feb/28/ukcrime4

TINA*08

She needs more publicity everywhere.

Huddersfield Daily Examiner

Feb 29 2008

by Joanne Douglas,

Firm's £5,000 Shannon reward

A BRADLEY business has put up a £5,000 reward for information leading to Shannon Matthews’ safe return.

Joseph Furniture used to employ Shannon’s uncle Neil Hyett and are offering the cash to anyone who can help find the missing nine-year-old.

In a statement bosses at Joseph Furniture, now based in Bradley, said: “As a company that was founded in Dewsbury, we feel a social and moral responsibility to aid with reuniting Shannon Matthews with her beloved family.”

Meanwhile, a Facebook site has been set up in Shannon’s name.

The ‘Help Find Shannon Matthews’ site has got more than 9,500 members.

Users from as far away as America have left messages of support for the missing schoolgirl’s family.

But many are local residents such as Lucy Wilby who wrote: “I live near Shannon’s school and police have been searching the area on foot and horseback there is also a helicopter circling the area.

“I hope Shannon is found safe and sound and my heart goes out to her family and what they must be going through.”

Shannon failed to return home following an after-school swimming lesson on Tuesday, February 19.

A spokesman for West Yorkshire Police said that the searches would continue until police are satisfied all properties in the area have been searched and excluded from their investigation.

Anyone with information about Shannon’s whereabouts is asked to call 01274 373737, text 07786 200806 or ring Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

http://www.examiner.co.uk/news/local-west-yorkshire-news/2008/02/29/firm-s-5-000-shannon-reward-86081-20538627/

PAM SUPPORTFROMIRELAND

ITN

Updated 23.52 Fri Feb 29 2008

Friend's tears over missing Shannon

The best friend of missing schoolgirl Shannon Matthews has made a tearful televised plea for the nine-year-old's safe return.

Megan Aldridge, also nine, walked home with Shannon on the afternoon of February 19 and saw her friend head off in the wrong direction to her home in Moorside Road, Dewsbury Moor, saying: "She were walking downwards, not up."

The youngster said her normally chatty friend was unusually quiet before she disappeared
Megan said: "I'm really, really sad, and if you know where she is just call and tell us where she is."

The youngster said her normally chatty friend was unusually quiet before she disappeared. She appealed on TV to her friend to "please come home".

"Everybody were chatting and Shannon were really, really quiet," she said, adding that she did not know why her behaviour was different.

Shannon's family have said they do not believe the timid West Yorkshire youngster ran away.

In her local paper, the Yorkshire Evening Post, Megan also made an appeal, saying: "If anyone knows where Shannon is they should tell someone. We have all been really upset since she went away."

A £20,000 reward has been offered by The Sun newspaper, which has also printed posters urging its readers to help in the search.

Shannon's mother and stepfather told the Sun: "Our message to people is never give up...because we won't until we find her."

<continues>

http://itn.co.uk/news/07e3c6f93da646798073bdb1db07ad70.html

INCLUDES VIDEO FOOTAGE OF SHANNON'S FRIEND MAKING AN APPEAL



Email campaign of her picture?

http://tinyurl.com/35ebu8

TINA*08

pam supportfromireland wrote:Email campaign of her picture?

http://tinyurl.com/35ebu8

ah right, well that's good this is happening Pam! I'm sure more publicity is going to help.

I have been thinking about this more and I find it very weird that there isn't more being mentioned in the papers and the police or the school haven't done more to publicise her being missing. I have a strong feeling there is a media black out on this and there is more being done than we know about, maybe they know who has her but to keep her safe they are keeping quiet..

Praying this is so!!

TASMIN

claire* wrote:Yorkshire Evening Post

SEARCH FOR SHANNON: 'All I want is my best friend back home safe'


View GalleryBy Richard Edwards

http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/SEARCH-FOR-SHANNON-39All-I.3830515.jp

Hope I done that right!

The effect that a missing child has on schoolfriends is devastating, I hope the school have bought support staff in to help these poor girls get through the trauma. :cry:

PAM SUPPORTFROMIRELAND

hi Claire,

I was advising people to email her poster about. I expect ye have loads of friends in UK and her picture should be emailed about. Let's hope there is news soon as it is incredible.