Mom writes book on family's anguish after daughter goes missing 15 years ago and was 'cut up and served as kebab meat'
Karen Downes believes an investigation into the murder of her 14-year-old daughter was sidelined because they belong to the working class. Charlene Downes, a schoolgirl from Blackpool, was allegedly cut up and served as kebab meat after her death.
Downes has been highly critical of the police after her daughter disappeared over 15 years ago and they dismissed her as a runaway. At times, she felt she was the only one searching for her daughter. Now, for the first time, Karen is speaking out about her ordeal in a new book, so that she can cement her beloved daughter's memories forever.
She says: "The police came but they just dismissed Charlene as a runaway. They wouldn't put her picture in the paper or on TV. It was six weeks later that her disappearance was made public."