4 Year Old Cleo Smith Found After 18 Days of Intense Search
On Wednesday four year old Australian girl Cleo Smith has been finally found after she was mysteriously abducted from her tent while her family were camping.
On Wednesday four year old Australian girl Cleo Smith has been finally found after she was mysteriously abducted from her tent while her family were camping.
Cleo Smith was last seen by her parents on October 16 at the Blowholes campsite at Macleod, north of Carnarvon.
She was wearing a one piece sleep suit and was in a red and black sleeping bag which has been missing since.
After 18 days of air, sea and ground search, investigators have found the little girl in a locked house in the coastal town of Carnarvon which is a short drive away from where she disappeared.
“One of the officers picked her up into his arms and asked her 'what's your name?'” police deputy commissioner Col Blanch said.
She replied: “My name is Cleo.”
She was alive, well and full of energy as described by Western Australia police officers.
A 36 year old suspect was found not far from the home and has been taken into custody. Police have said that the man has no connection with Cleo Smith's family.
Investigations are on and there are chances that he may be charged later in the day. Police haven’t disclosed what led them to the locked house.
On Wednesday in a press conference, the commissioner Chris Dawson held up the picture of Cleo declaring “it is a wonderful day.”
“It is a really special day for Western Australia,” Dawson said.
“I’m just the proudest police commissioner I think in the world at the moment.”
Cleo has been reunited with her parents. There were “big hugs, kisses and lots of tears,” Det Sgt Cameron Blaine said.
Cleo’s mother Ellie Smith posted on Instagram about her daughter’s discovery. The caption read, “Our family is whole again.”
Her mother had repeatedly posted on social media in connection to her daughter’s disappearance.
State premier Mark McGowan expressed his happiness on receiving the good news. He admitted that he first received a call at 1:38 am but he didn’t answer it as she was asleep. It was not before he received lovely image of Cleo sitting with a smiling face on the hospital bed.
“There will be movies made about this,” he said. “You never know what to expect, you hope for the best, but you prepare for the worst.”
“Can I finally also acknowledge Ellie and Jack, Cleo's parents, they have been through a lot in the last 18 days, terrible trauma, some vicious attacks, and some, no doubt, very trying and sad times. To them, and all of our thoughts go to them”, he expressed.
