Cleo Smith, the four-year-old girl who disappeared 18 days ago at a Blowholes campsite in Western Australia, has been found and “fine”. This was announced by her mother Ellie Smith on Instagram, stating that “the family is united again”. The police confirmed this, explaining that the girl was found alone in a house in Carnarvon, about 900 km north of Perth.
Western Australia Police Chief Chris Dawson told theAbc that a 36-year-old man who has “no connection with his family” was arrested. Neighbors said they began to suspect the arrested man, described as a “lonely” man, after seeing him buying diapers in a shop in Woolworths, despite having no children. A team of agents – Blanch continued – «broke into the house in the night and found the little girl in one of the rooms, locked. Cleo was picked up by one of the cops and asked what her name was. She replied: “My name is Cleo”. ‘ The child was immediately brought back to her parents.
Shortly after the discovery, Cleo was able to hug her parents again. “Our family is complete again,” wrote her mother Ellie on Instagram, posting a photo of her daughter. The police suspected that the child had been kidnapped, because the zipper of the curtain was found raised to a height that the child could not reach. And he had offered a $ 1 million (US $ 750,000) bounty for any information that might help locate the child.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison described Cleo’s finding “wonderful and comforting news.” “The fact that that nightmare is over and our worst fears have not been realized is a huge relief and a moment of great joy,” Morrison said during a press conference in Dubai. Deputy Commissioner of Police Col Blanch said police broke into the house which was locked and found the girl in one of the rooms. “What wonderful news, our prayers have been heard,” Prime Minister Scott Morrison also wrote.