Shannon Matthews found alive after 24 days missing
Shannon Matthews, nine-year-old girl who disappeared last month, found in West Yorkshire..
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Friday, 14, Mar 2008 07:58
Shannon Matthews, the nine-year-old girl who disappeared last month, has been found in West Yorkshire.
West Yorkshire police said they attended an address in Lidgate Gardens, Batley Carr, Dewsbury, at 12.30 GMT.
"During a search of the house, officers located Shannon Matthews who was found concealed in the base of a divan bed," a statement read.
"A 39-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of abduction at the address and is currently in custody at a West Yorkshire police station."
The statement confirmed that Shannon is currently in the care of West Yorkshire police.
The schoolgirl had not been seen since being dropped off at her school after a swimming trip in Dewsbury on Tuesday February 19th, but has been found alive in the Batley area.
CCTV footage of Shannon leaving the school saw almost 1,000 hits on the West Yorkshire police website.
Officers said it was thought Shannon may have told her friends she wanted to run away from home.
Officers stopped and spoke to around 1,500 motorists in the Dewsbury Moor area as part of the search, while over 2,000 houses were also being visited as part of the investigation, including a house on Moorside Road belonging to Neil Hyett, Shannon's uncle.
Part of the 999 call made by Shannon's mother Karen Matthews after her disappearance was released on Wednesday March 5th.
Ten per cent of the West Yorkshire police force's overall number of officers and detectives conducted a large-scale manhunt for Shannon during the 24 days in which she was missing.