Cleo Smith (4) Disappeared Overnight 16 Oct 2021 From Her Family's Tent At A Campsite In Macleod, Western Australia

[raisedbywolves]

https://www.theguardian.com/australi...0896326077af09

Blanch said there was no one particular lead or clue that led police to the house where Cleo was found.

It’s a collation of a lot of different things but what I can say is humans, good people, put information together. And that’s what I really want to put it down to.

There were lots of things, there were car movements, there were phone movements, there were antecedents of people, the jigsaw fit the puzzle but it took really good intelligence analysts and detectives and specialists to look at all of that information, put it together, and go: ‘You know what? that doesn’t seem right to me. I’ve been doing this a long time and we’re gonna act on it’. That’s how we get results.

Police offered a $1m reward for information, but Blanch says there was no key piece that broke open the investigation so that reward won’t be claimed.

The 36-year-old man that police have in custody has not, at this stage, been charged.

[of_corpse_not]

Oh wow this is a miracle. Glad for a happy ending

[Angiebla]

Ok no tips then, just plain old good detective work. Good for them. They did a great job. I just hope this little girl is okay, psychologically.

[Boston Babe 73]

Ok no tips then, just plain old good detective work. Good for them. They did a great job. I just hope this little girl is okay, psychologically.

They mentioned earlier on that there was a lead on a suspicious man that they thought was targeting her. I wonder if this was the guy. It was when they were searching the perimeter of the home.

I REALLY hope that he didn't do anything too serious to her, but I think we've all seen this too many times to think that he didn't. As for age, I didn't remember at first that I was abused at age 4, but eventually I did and it all came back in stark clarity. She'll need some serious counseling. Hopefully with how publicised this case has been, she'll get the help she needs.

For now, she's alive and that's a HUGE win because we all know that this isn't how these kinds of cases usually end.

[raisedbywolves]

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-11-...rest/100592594

Carnarvon residents describe man taken into police custody over Cleo Smith disappearance

Residents on the street have described an overweight man with long, curly black hair and average height going in and out of the property in the past two weeks.

One resident, who asked not to be named, said he heard a loud thumping on Tuesday night, which he believed was police knocking down the door.

But he said over the past few weeks there had been no other sounds from the house.

Another resident, who asked not to be named, said she had seen a man come and go from the house, and had only just spoken to him on Monday.

"I just saw him in and out, by his house," she said.

"He's a big, fat bloke.

"He was just normal. He would say hello and ask for a smoke."

She said she wasn't sure if he had a job, but he had a nice car. A blue Mazda sedan sat in the driveway of the home on Wednesday.

Police have spoken of a car described by one witness as a sedan, spotted leaving the Blowholes at around 3am on October 16, which they had not been able to account for.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-11-...isit/100593306

A 36-year-old man arrested yesterday over the disappearance of Cleo Smith remains in police custody after twice being taken to hospital, with charges expected to be laid today.

He was taken to hospital around midday yesterday and again this morning, but the ABC understands he has now been returned to the police station.

The man leading the investigation, Detective Superintendent Rod Wilde, confirmed the man's injuries were self-inflicted.

"Once he's cleared from that we'd would like to speak to him further. That still needs to play out," he's told Nine Radio.

"I imagine he may be fit later on this afternoon to be interviewed, and if that's the case we'll do that and we'll go forward from there."

Deputy Police Commissioner Col Blanch said he did not believe the man had any serious injuries.
Suspect not well enough to be charged

Commissioner Blanch said it was standard procedure for police to wait until he was well enough to be interviewed.

"It's taking a bit of time," he told Nine Radio.

"Police have a very clear role under law to make sure if we are going to interview anyone they must be of sound mind, they must be healthy, must have been fed and must have had sufficient rest.

"So we've got to make all the right accommodations for this person so we can make the right decisions going forward today."

He reiterated that taking him to hospital was "precautionary" and part of the custodial process.

[blighted star]

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-11-...-man/100592332

Police have charged a Western Australian man over the abduction of four-year-old Cleo Smith.

Key points:
Terence Darrell Kelly has been charged over the abduction of Cleo Smith

He has appeared in the Carnarvon Magistrates Court on two charges

He was remanded in police custody

Terence Darrell Kelly did not apply for bail and was not required to enter a plea when he faced Carnarvon Magistrate's Court this afternoon.

The 36-year-old expressed anger with the media presence as he was flanked by two police officers.

He took a while to acknowledge his name, he nodded to indicate he understood the charges, which included one count of forcibly taking a child under 16, commonly referred to as child stealing.

The accused appeared overweight, wore his hair out and did not show much emotion, other than appearing agitated with the presence of two ABC journalists.

He was remanded in custody until December 6.

Police have had Mr Kelly in custody for the past two days, since Cleo was found in the bedroom of a locked house in the northern West Australian town of Carnarvon in the early hours of Wednesday morning, 18 days after her family reported her missing.

Mr Kelly was arrested on a street in town after police officers broke into the state housing commission home he was living in and found Cleo playing with toys inside.

The four detectives in court today included Cameron Blaine, who was the officer who found Cleo inside.

It is alleged the man took the four-year-old while she slept inside her family's tent at the Blowholes campgrounds on October 16.

Her disappearance sparked a massive police search.

More to come.

[Nic B]

So how did he know she was there, had he been to the campground earlier? Was this totally random? I think I read earlier that his house wasn't far from where her family lived, was he stalking her before this? So many questions...

[Boston Babe 73]

So how did he know she was there, had he been to the campground earlier? Was this totally random? I think I read earlier that his house wasn't far from where her family lived, was he stalking her before this? So many questions...

Well, I'm assuming he knew of her and stalked her. I know it's the Daily Mail, but apparently he had issues. He was obsessed with "Bratz" dolls and often posted pics of himself posing with them

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...obsession.html

[Nic B]

Well, I'm assuming he knew of her and stalked her. I know it's the Daily Mail, but apparently he had issues. He was obsessed with "Bratz" dolls and often posted pics of himself posing with them

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...obsession.html

Creepy AF.

[raisedbywolves]

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-59144556

The final pieces of the puzzle

Police have not revealed the exact details of what led them to the locked house in Carnarvon, where they found Cleo alive and well.

Commissioner Dawson told reporters "really important" information about a car helped direct police to the house on Wednesday though he has not elaborated on what that information was.

Detective Wilde said that police were able to "build a picture of who was supposed to be there and who was not supposed to be there" by piecing together all the information they received and by "placing people in certain locations at certain times".

He added that things had become "clearer" on Tuesday afternoon, which led them to arresting their suspect.

Local media reports have stated that a man - now known to be Mr Kelly - was removed from his vehicle and arrested hours before police rescued Cleo.

Police say they believe the alleged kidnapper was acting alone.

"There were lots of things, that when we put the puzzle together it all led to one place, and that's where we found Cleo," said Commissioner Dawson.

But the investigation into the events of that night are still not over.

Police are still trying to piece together exactly what happened. They have appealed to businesses and individuals in the area to provide them with CCTV footage from between 15 October and 2 November.

There is also much we don't know about Cleo's experience of the abduction. Police said they have experts who will interview her, but warned that it could take days before they got any useful information out of her.

"It will take as long as it takes," Detective Wilde said, adding that they had to be careful not to upset her.

Her family is also being counselled on the next steps with regards to both Cleo's wellbeing and the progression of the case.

[Boston Babe 73]

By the sounds of it, she's not showing any outward signs of being abused. She seemed pretty normal in the photos after her recovery from the home. Is it at all possible that this guy thought of her as a "living doll" and didn't do anything perverted to her? Dog, I hope so. If that's the case then it would be the least traumatic for her. He could just be a Looney Tune and not a perverted variety.

[raisedbywolves]

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/cle...DZB4MCYEU2LGU/

Cousin of suspect Terence Darrell Kelly reveals details about his early years

Relatives of the man accused of abducting Cleo Smith say he was called a "little princess" during his unusual upbringing.

Earlier this week, it was revealed in audiotapes that Terence Darrell Kelly was removed from his mother's care at a young age, and raised by a respected member of the indigenous community, Penny Walker, in the town of Carnarvon. Walker died in 2020, leaving Kelly living alone in their home.

Kelly's cousin has spoken to Channel Nine, saying the accused kidnapper's guardian spoiled him as a child, which led to friends and family in the community referring to him as her "little princess". She also believes the passing of Walker affected him significantly.

"And he was lonely. His behaviour changed. He just kept locking himself in the house."

[Boston Babe 73]

Ugh. I get the feeling that this wasn't sexually motivated. Not saying that what he did was right, FARRRRRR from it! However, it's sounding more and more like he suffered from either a stunted intelligence/lack of social skills and perhaps mental illness. Almost like he might have felt threatened by adults and just wanted a friend. IDK. I kind of feel bad for him in a weird way. Although that's only if what I'm describing is true.

[raisedbywolves]

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...ains-bars.html

Cleo Smith's alleged abductor is hit with a new charge as he remains behind bars

The man accused of abducting Cleo Smith has been charged with assaulting a public officer.

Terence Darrell Kelly, 36, allegedly took the four-year-old from a tent at the Quobba Blowholes campsite on October 16 and held her at a home in Carnarvon, north of Perth, for 18 days.

He will face Carnarvon Magistrates Court on January 24 for a number alleged offences, including forcibly taking a child under 16.

New court records show he has also been hit with an assault charge.

It is not known whether the charges relates to a prison or police officer.

Following his arrest, Kelly bashed his head against a wall while he was in police custody, reports claimed.

He was flown to Perth on a chartered flight with officers from the Department of Justice’s special operations group.

The alleged kidnapper has not entered a plea or applied for bail.

[raisedbywolves]

https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/23/austr...hnk/index.html

Man pleads guilty to abducting 4-year-old Cleo Smith in Australia

An Australian man accused of kidnapping 4-year-old Cleo Smith and keeping her captive for nearly three weeks last year pleaded guilty on Monday.

Terence Kelly, 36, appeared via video link at Carnarvon Magistrates Court in Western Australia and pleaded guilty to the charge of "forcibly taking a child under 16."

He is being held in a maximum security prison in the state capital, Perth.

The case will now move to the District Court of Western Australia and a hearing will take place on March 25. A sentencing date has not yet been fixed.

Kelly faces two further charges including assaulting a police officer, to which he has not yet entered a plea.

[Boston Babe 73]

I'm sorry, but I can't help but feel like this guy had issues that had nothing to do with anything sexual. He strikes me as someone who has delayed intelligence. If he did anything sexual to her, they would have nailed him for it. An Aboriginal guy with a little white girl? They just LOOK for ways to crucify them there.

The picture of the girl with her mother after she was found has her smiling and seemingly happy. Fed and not physically hurt by any appearance. I truly think this guy was lonely and perhaps has the mentality of a child and just was lonely and did something stupid. That's my take.

[KimTisha]

I listened to a podcast about this case. It's really sad all around. There is definitely mental illness involved. I don't think his intentions were to hurt her, but as BB73 said, just to have a living doll. It appears he took good care of her the best he could. The podcast didn't reveal whether there was any sexual assault, but I'm sure he would have been charged with it if there was any evidence.

[Boston Babe 73]

I listened to a podcast about this case. It's really sad all around. There is definitely mental illness involved. I don't think his intentions were to hurt her, but as BB73 said, just to have a living doll. It appears he took good care of her the best he could. The podcast didn't reveal whether there was any sexual assault, but I'm sure he would have been charged with it if there was any evidence.

It's super creepy to think about, but yes. Like a living doll. I just hope that he gets some kind of help while incarcerated. I don't see him doing too well in prison so any help for mental illness would be to his benefit.

I'm hoping nothing sexual happened. So far, it seems like they found no evidence of it so that's good.

[Nic B]

But he did kidnap her from her tent, there had to be some sort of planning, right? Or did he just happen to be there and saw an opportunity? I feel like he may have stalked her (I can't remember if it was already discussed how it all went down, I am too busy to re-read the thread right now).

[KimTisha]

But he did kidnap her from her tent, there had to be some sort of planning, right? Or did he just happen to be there and saw an opportunity? I feel like he may have stalked her (I can't remember if it was already discussed how it all went down, I am too busy to re-read the thread right now).

I don't recall exactly how it went down either, but I think he may have seen her earlier in the day? I also seem to remember something about him getting diapers for her and somebody tipped off the police about that? He was trying to take care of her. I don't think this was malicious, I think he had some kind of mental breakdown. I should probably find that podcast again and relisten. I remember I came away from it feeling very sad for everyone involved.

[Boston Babe 73]

But he did kidnap her from her tent, there had to be some sort of planning, right? Or did he just happen to be there and saw an opportunity? I feel like he may have stalked her (I can't remember if it was already discussed how it all went down, I am too busy to re-read the thread right now).

I think he probably stalked her for a while. I'm not saying that what he did wasn't wrong. OF COURSE it is!!!! He kidnapped her! I'm just pointing out that this doesn't seem to be the usual case where he kidnapped her with the intent of doing anything to physically hurt her. Most cases like this end with the child either being raped or dead or both. This one seems to be different and his motive seems to be rooted in mental illness and wanting to have her to take care of. Sounds crazy, but I think that's the issue. He obviously isn't all there.

I don't recall exactly how it went down either, but I think he may have seen her earlier in the day? I also seem to remember something about him getting diapers for her and somebody tipped off the police about that? He was trying to take care of her. I don't think this was malicious, I think he had some kind of mental breakdown. I should probably find that podcast again and relisten. I remember I came away from it feeling very sad for everyone involved.

See, I hadn't even heard about the diapers. I was just judging by the little girl's demeanor and physical appearance in photos after she was recovered. That and the fact that he wasn't charged with anything sexual with her.