Karen Matthews Now Lives Under New Name After Notorious Kidnap Scandal
Karen Matthews, now going by the name Katy Parker, is living quietly in a basement flat on Queens Road, Reading. Matthews made headlines in 2008 when she was jailed for four years after abducting and drugging her own nine-year-old daughter in a twisted plot to claim a £50,000 reward.
The Sick Plot Behind the Headlines
Back then, Matthews’ boyfriend Craig Meehan was also convicted, serving 20 weeks after police discovered child sexual abuse material on his computer. Matthews, who now claims to be a born-again Christian, currently works in a local shop. All seven of her children have been given new identities and are thought to have had no contact with their mum since the shocking case broke.
The Kidnap That Shook the Nation
The drama began when nine-year-old Shannon disappeared after a school swimming trip. Matthews made emotional pleas on TV, sparking a huge police search and a £50,000 reward offer. The community rallied to find the girl — but after nearly a month, Matthews confessed she staged the entire kidnapping to claim the cash.
Shannon was found drugged and locked away under a divan bed less than a mile from her home, in the flat of Michael Donovan — the uncle of Craig Meehan, Matthews’ then boyfriend.
Justice Served
Matthews and Donovan both received eight-year jail sentences for kidnap, false imprisonment, and perverting the course of justice.
