For the past three weeks there have been posters of this nine year old girl pinned up on every lamp post, wall, and shop window of my town. Every time Amy sees one she tells me very sadly
“That little girl is lost and her mummy and daddy can’t find her”
I told her that it would be ok, that she would be found eventually, and that everything would be alright.
But I didn’t believe it.
But today she has been found alive in a house only a mile from her home. We don’t know what has happened to her in the last three weeks, and we can only hope that it was not something that will leave irreparable scars. But when I heard the news my cynical news-weary heart lifted. I can now tell my daughter that the girl has found her mummy and daddy. And that’s worth a hell of a lot to me.
- BBC news report
- And slightly more depressingly, an interesting piece on the media’s treatment of the case.
on Mar 15th, 2008 at 12:38 am
I could not believe this when I saw it today.
It’s fantastic for the wee girl and those who really care for her. A nightmare beyond imagination come to an end.
How brilliant is it to be able to say to your daughter that she WAS found, she’s home safe, a ‘happy ending’.
As for the real story behind the disappearance, and the media treatment of these cases, there’s a lot more to come on these I’m sure.
but still, great news. REALLY great news for once.
Xbox4NappyRash’s last blog post..Number Crunching
on Mar 15th, 2008 at 1:10 am
I could not imagine losing a child, it might literally kill me. I’m glad she was found alive.
Summer’s last blog post..Uncensored
on Mar 15th, 2008 at 1:11 am
I’m glad to hear the girl was found alive, but was deeply saddened by how her family was treated.
blog hopping’ - etcetera
Tara R.’s last blog post..It has begun
on Mar 15th, 2008 at 1:14 am
I read two stories today about this young lady.
One said she had been found hiding at her grandparent home
Another said it was the home of an un-named man in his thirties.
I wonder what the story is *there*?
PandoraCaitiff’s last blog post..“I’m glad it had a happy ending…”
on Mar 15th, 2008 at 1:40 am
I’m very happy the girl was found and you did not have to explain a different reality to your daughter.
Chuck’s last blog post..You can?t get to heaven with a hot air balloon
on Mar 15th, 2008 at 4:46 am
This story is eerily similar to one that happened in my town a few years ago. 9-year-old Shasta Groene came from a dysfunctional family, with brothers in and out of jail, a mom who took drugs, and a biker dad. When she and her brother were abducted, some blamed the mother and the type of people she and her boyfriend hung around. Turned out everyone was wrong. She was taken at random by a sex offender. Miraculously, just like Shannon Matthews, Shasta was found alive seven weeks later. Sadly, her brother was killed.
on Mar 15th, 2008 at 8:14 pm
I heard all of that interview as it was rebroadcast on BBC Radio Leeds, it was the first sign that the press were gearing up for a hatchet job on the family, and there’s an awful voyeurism that makes you want to know more dirty details no matter how irrelevant they were.
Its fantastic that she has been found but this story is going to run and run and if only half of the rumours that I have heard are true then there are more shocks to come yet.
Gary’s last blog post..Goodbye, goodbye, we’re leaving you goodbye…
on Mar 15th, 2008 at 9:11 pm
Oh wow. How wonderful she was found and you have good news to share. It does make me worry about what happened to her the past three weeks… that could be harder to explain, especially if the media is having a heyday with it. Poor girl.
Weekend Bloghopping early tonight. Got a sitter and a hot date with hubs. I think we’re going to Costco…
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on Mar 16th, 2008 at 12:20 am
I’m glad, for involved, that she was found. It’s amazing, since becoming a mother, how reading these things can hit you on a gut level.
Bloghopping, etc..
Tracy’s last blog post..“You’re already home” - originally posted July 19, 2007
on Mar 16th, 2008 at 2:27 am
It’s good to hear of one being found for a change… to often we hear the worst in these cases…
Maureen
Blog Hoppin’
on Mar 16th, 2008 at 5:51 am
For what it’s worth, American media wouldn’t have been any better, I don’t think.
I’m glad you’re able to tell your child a joyful ending.
Blog Hoppin’,
Balancing Hops
April’s last blog post..Flashback Friday - Sisters
on Mar 16th, 2008 at 9:04 am
I have to admit to making assumptions when I heard about the family situaton. I’m not proud of that. For a few years now I have worked with people from this type of area and have been amazed by the different lifestyle many lead compared to mine.
I have problems understanding how a mother can leave a three year old playing out in the street along a busy road. How parents feel swearing, drinking and taking drugs around their kids is fine. How kicking a teenage son out onto the streets because he can’t find work and can’t pay his share of the bills is OK. How telling your daughter to ‘get herself knocked up’ so she gets her own flat and a grant for new furniture is one way of becoming independant.
This is real life for some people. They would probably have difficulty understanding why I do what I do at times.
That’s why I made an assumption that there could be more to it than it seemed. It was wrong of me to do this but I’m sure many others thought the same.
I too felt my heart warm when I heard the news. All too often these days it goes the other way.
on Mar 16th, 2008 at 9:26 am
Gail - I work with many socially deprived people too, and it is extremely hard not to judge or make assumptions.
I think it is pretty well accepted that there is more to this case than we know about. I’ve heard information from various police and media people I know which deeply disturbs me. But all those are just rumor. Judging purely by the facts we know at this time it would be fair to say that the Maccans were far more negligent with their children and yet they have not been crucified by the press. I wonder why that was? Could it be they are affluent and educated?
One of these days I’m going to do a rant on the word “Chav”. How it is a useful tool for those who feel they are elite to dehumanize the underclass.
I truly believe that one of the prime causes of anti-social behavior in this country is the alienation of the socially deprived. These people have been rejected by society, and so they don’t see how their norms apply to them.
It’s society wots to blame guv.
Of course tat doesn’t stop me getting nervous when I see a group of youths in track suits walking towards me.
on Mar 16th, 2008 at 11:46 am
I hadn’t heard about this. But I’m glad to know there are still happy endings once in a while.
Miss Britt’s last blog post..Blah Blah Vlog
on Mar 16th, 2008 at 5:01 pm
I was amazed and saddened at how cynical I felt about this whole case. I am, of course, eternally grateful that she has been found alive and unharmed.
I honestly hope that the media and everyone else just leaves the family alone now to get on with their lives.
It’s a shame to know this won’t happen.
Bec’s last blog post..Spontaneous Combustion
on Mar 16th, 2008 at 8:20 pm
It’s nice to have the happy ending. I wish it wasn’t so rare.
Whit’s last blog post..Horton Hears a Who’s on First*
on Apr 16th, 2008 at 8:41 pm
What do we make of this story now, considering the developments.
Seems like the negative press may now have had some substance.
What do we do for the next poor kid who goes missing?
Xbox4NappyRash’s last blog post..Lack of adventures in babysitting