'Evil' mum kidnapped daughter in ransom plot
Posted
'Evil': Karen Matthews at the time of her daughter's fake disappearance (Reuters: Nigel Roddis, file photo)
A British mother has been found guilty of kidnapping her own daughter and hiding her away in the hope of recovering thousands of pounds (dollars) in ransom money.
Thirty-two-year-old Karen Matthews was involved in a plot with her co-accused Michael Donovan that involved kidnapping nine-year-old Shannon Matthews and hiding her away for 24 days.
The child was held at Donovan's flat in West Yorkshire after being abducted on her way home from school earlier this year.
Leeds Crown Court heard that the pair kept Shannon Matthews drugged, subdued and hidden from the public so they could claim the $115,000 reward.
Detective Superintendent Andy Brennan described Karen Matthews as "evil".
"It's difficult to understand what type of mother would subject her own daughter to such a wicked and evil crime," he said.
"Karen Matthews is a manipulative individual who has demonstrated a remarkable ability to lie."
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