Cleo Smith update: Police investigate whether four-year-old was in one place whole time she was missing
Follow the latest live updates here
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Police investigating the abduction of four-year-old Cleo Smith say they are trying to establish whether for the entire time she was missing she was at the home where she was found.
Officers say a key focus of their investigation will be on tracking Terence Darrell Kelly’s movements in the days leading up to her rescue in Carnarvon, Western Australia.
The suspect charged with her abduction was moved to a maximum-security prison in Perth for threatening a reporter.
The Australian reported that he also looked a reporter directly in the eye and said: “I’m going to get out of here one day. I’m coming for you.”
His arrest followed a massive search for Cleo after she vanished from her family’s tent in the early hours of 16 October at the remote Blowholes Shacks campsite in Macleod.
Ellie Smith and Jake Gliddon, Cleo’s parents, said they were “humbled by the love and support” they received throughout the search for their daughter. The pair also thanked those involved in Cleo’s rescue.
“In particular we would like to thank the WA Police, all those involved in the initial search, the Carnarvon community, local businesses and of course our family and friends,” they said in a statement.
“We are so thankful that our little girl is back in our arms and our family is whole again.”
Cleo Smith timeline: What happened to the four-year-old who went missing for 18 days?
Missing girl Cleo Smith, 4, found alive by police in locked house two weeks after disappearance
Cleo Smith found: Police release first image of missing 4-year-old girl from hospital
Cleo Smith: Footage shows moment missing four-year-old was rescued 18 days after disappearance
Footage shows rescue of Cleo Smith
“The moment Cleo was rescued”. From Western Australia police
Australian news outlet sorry for identifying wrong man as Cleo Smith abduction suspect
Seven West media issued an apology for identifying the wrong man as the main suspect in the Cleo Smith abduction case.
Local reports said that around midday on Wednesday, 7NEWS published an article on their website with two images of an Aboriginal Australian man they identified — incorrectly — as the 36-year-old who was taken into custody by the West Australian Police in connection with Cleo’s abduction hours earlier.
The news site had taken the images from Facebook.
However, just before midnight, Seven West, owner of the site, published an apology online. The statement read: “Earlier on Wednesday 7NEWS wrongly showed images of a man that were incorrectly labelled as the person under arrest over the disappearance of Cleo Smith. These were removed promptly, but 7NEWS apologises for the error.”
‘FOUND'
Terry Kelly: Man, 36, charged with abducting four-year-old girl in Australia
A man has been charged over the abduction of four-year-old Cleo Smith, who went missing from a remote campsite in Western Australia.
Terry Kelly, 36, was charged with a string of offences including forcibly taking a child under 16.
He appeared at Carnarvon Magistrates’ Court on Thursday and is due to appear again on 6 December.
Police said the man was twice taken to hospital for self-inflicted injuries before being interviewed and charged with various offences related to the abduction.
Man charged with abducting four-year-old Cleo Smith
Youngster found safe by police 18 days after disappearing from family’s tent at remote campsite
Cleo Smith timeline: What happened to the four-year-old who went missing for 18 days?
How the hunt unforlded day-by-day, from 16 October to Wednesday:
Cleo Smith timeline: What happened to the four-year-old who went missing for 18 days?
Girl taken from remote coastal campsite in Western Australia on 16 October thought to be victim of ‘opportunistic’ abduction
Forensic teams search house where Cleo was kept
Police forensic officers have been seen searching the home in Carnarvon, Western Australia, where Cleo Smith was kept when she went missing for more than two weeks.
‘My name is Cleo'
Listen to audio from the moment police found Cleo Smith:
‘Luckiest town in the world’ welcomes Cleo Smith home
The people of Carnarvon have rejoiced at the return of Cleo Smith after she was missing for 18 days.
Some cried tears of joy in the quiet town of around 5,000 as the four-year-old was reuinited with her family.
Local resident Leticia Andreoli, whose son is in the same class as Cleo ath St Mary Star of the Sea Catholic School, said: “Walking around town, it feels like this cloud has been lifted.”
Cleo Smith’s classmates ready to welcome her back to school
Classmates of four-year-old Cleo Smith are excited to welcome her back to school whenever she feels ready.
Parents said their children were as concerned as the adults by Cleo’s disappearance.
“When Cleo came back it was really overwhelming. Very happy,” said Joseph Nguyen, the father of a child at her school.
“The town is just like a whole family. To us everyone in town is family,” he said.
“All the children in the class are very happy and waiting for her to come back and she will be very happy as well.”
Denim French, another parent, said explaining the situation surrounding Cleo’s disappearance to the children was “a bit awkward”.
He said he focused on the positive aspect: her return.
“Just such a big relief. It has been great,” he said.
“For the community to feel whole again, to have that worry — it was a really tough couple of weeks — so I think everyone is very buoyant now.”
Dash cam captured moment police close in on Terry Kelly
A dashcam image has emerged which shows the moment police closed in the man suspected of kidnapping Cleo Smith.
Terry Kelly, 36, was charged with a string of offences including forcibly taking a child under 16.
In a grainy screengrab of dashcam footage, police can be seen surrounding the abducter. The operation took place in front of shocked onlookers.
“It was like a high speed chase first, there was one car and then police cars,” Deane Mitchell told 7NEWS on Thursday.
“([ thought] something’s going on, that’s not right.”
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments