Waiting for Shannon's story

It's one of a number of theories running through the streets here in Dewsbury. Of course, the only person who can really answer that is Shannon herself.

The nine-year-old is with social services and police child protection experts at the moment who are slowly taking her through what happened from the moment she left her junior school on 19 February to the time police found her hidden in the draw of a divan bed on Friday afternoon.

Is it really plausible that the family knew what had happened? It may not be that wild a question when you consider that Shannon was found in the home of her stepfather's uncle, Mick Donovan, who is being questioned on suspicion of abduction.

A neighbour told me that Mr Donovan was a regular on Moorside Road where Shannon's family live. With a family connection could it be likley that someone, somwhere knew what had happened.

In any event police must decide what to do with Mr Donovan today - they can seek an extension to question him further or release him without charge.

The 39-year-old's home, about a mile from where Shannon lived with her mother and stepfather, is still in the hands of police forensic officers.

A white tent obscures the blue door, which remains hanging off its hinges after police smashed their way on Friday in the moments leading up to Shannon's discovery.

I've spent the whole weekend in Dewsbury talking to friends and family and trying to establish how Karen Matthews is coping and what, if anything, anyone knew about how or why she vanished.

Karen Matthews said she was happy they were "a family again" and said she understood that the process of talking to Shannon could take time.

Friends say that Karen and her family are distressed as they have little control over what's happening. It's the police who are in control - and they'll want to keep it that way until Shannon can shed light on her missing three weeks.

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