Son’s Desperate Plea: Where is Mom?
In a chilling tale that unfolded over three decades, a family gathering on June 14, 1993, captured seven-year-old Rasheed Vaughan’s innocent smile as he posed for the camera. Little did he know that the following day would mark the beginning of a tragic and twisted story of betrayal and loss.
On that fateful day, Rasheed’s mother, Laura, fell victim to a heinous act, murdered by none other than her own husband, Dr. Hassan Al Shatanawi, in a shed that he had specifically acquired for the ghastly deed. Now, after 30 long years, Rasheed, who has grown into a 37-year-old council gardener, is making a heartfelt plea to his father for answers about his mother’s resting place.
The Perfect Murder Plot
Dr. Al Shatanawi, then 77, had meticulously planned what he believed would be the perfect murder. He purchased a new 4ft-by-8ft shed for £250, erecting it on his allotment near Hartlepool, Co Durham. In this sinister location, he lured Laura, aged 36, and took her life before dismembering her body, hiding it in pieces.
His nefarious plan involved destroying the wooden shed and erasing any trace of his crime by setting it ablaze. However, instead of executing the task himself, Al Shatanawi enlisted handyman Andrew Rae, who, for a mere £10, decided not to follow the doctor’s instructions and sold the shed to a friend.
This twist of fate enabled the police forensic team to discover Laura’s blood and strands of her hair on the shed’s floor at its new location, preventing the complete obliteration of evidence.
A Murder Trial and a Lifetime in Prison
In 1994, a week-long trial at Newcastle Crown Court saw Al Shatanawi plead not guilty to murder. However, he was found guilty and sentenced to life in prison, with a minimum term of 16 years. Ultimately, he served 18 years behind bars due to Laura’s family’s objections to his parole.
A Son’s Unending Quest
Now, after the passage of 30 long years, Rasheed is seeking closure. He has a gravestone but no mother to remember. He implores his father, the only person who can relieve the torment that has haunted his family for decades, to reveal the whereabouts of Laura’s remains.
Rasheed’s life took an unexpected turn from the happiness he once knew. He recalls the turbulent atmosphere at home and witnessing his father’s violence towards his mother. When Laura disappeared, Al Shatanawi dismissed it as a temporary absence, but the truth slowly unraveled, and Rasheed’s world changed forever.
A Life Rebuilt
Raised by his great aunt, Rasheed found stability in the former pit village of West Cornforth. Today, he is a loving partner and father, determined to provide his son with a joyful and secure home. Yet, the question of his mother’s final resting place continues to haunt him.
As he reflects on his traumatic childhood and the 30th anniversary of his mother’s death, Rasheed’s plea is simple: “It might be that he didn’t do it alone — he could well have had an accomplice, so someone out there might know or suspect something that can help us.”
While the hope of uncovering the truth seems faint, Rasheed clings to the belief that one day his father’s conscience will prevail, allowing his mother to find the peace she deserves.
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