Plea to missing daughter

Feb 21 2008 Liverpool Daily Post

THE mother of a missing nine-year-old girl last night made an emotional plea for her daughter to return home.

Shannon Matthews, from Moorside Road, Dewsbury Moor, Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, was reported missing hours after failing to return home from school yesterday afternoon.

Police said about 200 officers from across the West Yorkshire area were searching for the little girl.

Last night, speaking for the first time outside her home, Shannon’s mother Karen said: “Shannon, you are a princess in every way, come home.”

Mrs Matthews said this was the first time Shannon had disappeared, and reassured her that she did not need to worry about returning.

“Shannon, you are not in trouble, darling, please come home,” she said.