When the case of Shannon Matthews first broke in 2008, Britain was transfixed. A missing child, frantic searches, and desperate public appeals made it one of the most widely followed stories of the decade. At the center of it all was Shannon’s mother, Karen Matthews — a figure whose behavior raised suspicions long before the shocking truth came out.

Now, years later, a former police liaison officer assigned to Matthews has spoken out about their first meeting with her — and the memory still sends shivers down his spine.

According to the officer, the initial interaction with Matthews was unlike anything he had ever experienced in his career. “The very first thing she did wasn’t to ask about Shannon,” he revealed. “She didn’t cry, she didn’t even mention her daughter. Instead, she made a gesture that seemed… off. Almost rehearsed. It was chilling — I knew instantly something wasn’t right.”

That moment would haunt him, because as the investigation progressed, Matthews’ strange behavior only grew more disturbing. While the community rallied around her — raising funds, printing posters, and organizing searches — detectives behind the scenes were becoming increasingly uneasy.

Instead of a distraught mother, Matthews often appeared distracted, self-focused, and at times, even amused. Her actions didn’t match the desperation expected of a parent whose child had vanished. “It was as if she was playing a role,” the officer explained. “But the cracks showed from day one.”

When Shannon was eventually found alive, hidden in a flat less than a mile from her home, the truth unraveled in spectacular fashion. Karen Matthews had staged her daughter’s disappearance in a bid to claim reward money — a plan so cruel and reckless it shocked the nation to its core.

The liaison officer’s memory of that first encounter has never faded. “I’ve worked with countless families in moments of pure tragedy,” he said. “But Karen’s first gesture — the way she carried herself — it was different. It felt cold. Hollow. I’ll never forget it.”

Today, the chilling details of the Matthews case continue to fascinate and horrify true crime followers. But for those who worked it firsthand, it wasn’t just a headline or a documentary. It was a disturbing lesson in deception — and a reminder that sometimes, the first impression can reveal far more than words ever could.