Mom charged with staging kidnapping

DEWSBURY, England, April 8 (UPI) -- The mother of 9-year-old Shannon Matthews was formally charged Tuesday with staging a kidnapping that galvanized Britain and the world.

Karen Matthews was expected to appear before a magistrate Wednesday in Yorkshire, the Spenborough Guardian reported. She was taken into custody Sunday night.

"Having carefully considered all of the evidence provided in the file by West Yorkshire Police we have decided that there is sufficient evidence and have authorized that Karen Matthews be charged with perverting the course of justice and child neglect," Peter Mann of the Crown Prosecution Service said at a news conference. "She is in the process of being charged and will appear before Dewsbury Magistrates tomorrow morning."

Shannon vanished for 24 days only to be found a mile from home at the house of a relative of her mother's partner. Investigators are trying to determine whether Matthews allegedly staged the abduction in an attempt to end her relationship with Craig Meehan or if it was a moneymaking venture, The Daily Mail reported.

Police have also been viewing an episode of "Shameless," a popular television show, that involves a fake kidnapping.