Key Highlights
- Grim urban myth surrounding Charlene Downes’ disappearance in 2003 has been debunked by journalist Nicola Thorp.
- Two men charged and tried for killing Charlene were later freed after a retrial collapse, receiving £250,000 compensation for false imprisonment.
- The “kebab theory” falsely claimed the suspects had killed Charlene and disposed of her remains as kebabs.
- Elon Musk amplified the myth by retweeting it, leading to over 5.7 million views.
Grim Urban Myth Surrounds Disappearance of Teenager in Blackpool
Journalist Nicola Thorp has debunked a baseless urban legend surrounding the disappearance of Charlene Downes, a 14-year-old who vanished without trace from her hometown of Blackpool in November 2003. The myth, which claimed that the body of the teenage girl was turned into kebab meat, has been circulating for over two decades and has hampered efforts to find justice for the young victim.
The Case Unfolds
Two years after Charlene’s disappearance, in 2005, police told her parents, Bob and Karen Downes, that they believed she had been murdered within hours of her last sighting. A massive investigation was launched, interviewing over 3,000 people to uncover evidence of a child grooming gang operating in the seaside town. Two men were charged and tried for Charlene’s murder in 2007 but later freed after their retrial collapsed due to “a catalogue of errors,” according to the police watchdog. Both men received £250,000 compensation for false imprisonment.
The Kebab Theory Debunked
A key part of the trial was the sensational “kebab theory,” which falsely claimed that one of the suspects had killed Charlene and disposed of her remains using a mincing machine before putting them into kebabs. This myth has been perpetuated by far-right rhetoric, particularly targeting the two Middle Eastern men who stood trial. In January 2025, Elon Musk amplified the myth by retweeting it, leading to over 5.7 million views.
Investigation and Podcast
To debunk this false narrative once and for all, journalist Nicola Thorp, who grew up just a mile from where the Downes family lived, launched an eight-part podcast titled “Charlene: Somebody Knows Something.” The podcast includes interviews with key figures in the case, including the original suspects, the schoolgirl’s family and friends, witnesses, and other crucial individuals. Thorp hopes that her investigation will bring the family closer to answers and help them achieve justice for their daughter.
In an interview with the Daily Mail, Thorp stated: “The evidence around the covert material that was relied upon in court has been fatally undermined and is not accurate, is not truthful.” Senior investigating officer Det Supt Gareth Willis echoed this sentiment, saying that independent reviews have confirmed the lack of factual basis for the claims made during the trial.
Impact of the Myth
The myth has had a significant impact on the case’s progress and public perception. “If my investigation for this podcast achieves anything, I hope it brings an end to this false and damaging narrative,” Thorp added. She emphasized that a missing 14-year-old girl who was a victim of child sexual abuse deserves more than being reduced to a piece of meat in a headline.
The case remains open, with a £100,000 reward for information leading to a conviction. The continued search for justice highlights the importance of accurate and factual reporting in the face of persistent urban myths that can derail crucial investigations.
