Cleo Smith missing update – Bratz doll-obsessed 'oddball' Terence Kelly, 36, charged with abduction of 4-year-old
THE Cleo Smith kidnap suspect was obsessed with Bratz dolls with pictures showing dozens of them in the house where she was found.
Terence Darrell Kelly, 36, was arrested just before officers swooped on a property where they found Cleo, who has now been reunited with her family.
Four-year-old Cleo was carried to safety after she was found safe 18 days after vanishing from Blowholes Campground – just 43 miles from her home in Carnarvon, Western Australia.
One of Kelly’s many social media profiles is a Facebook page devoted to his obsession with Bratz dolls, an American brand featuring scantily clad teenage figures.
On the page, posted a video of himself with a filter showing hearts with the words “I love my dolls”.
Read our Cleo Smith live blog below for the latest updates..
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Suspect 'injured himself'
A suspect held over allegedly abducting Cleo Smith has been rushed to hospital twice, cops say.
Terry Kelly, 36, injured himself at a police station in Carnarvon, Western Australia, while being held over the alleged kidnapping of the four-year-old girl.
Detective Superintendent Rod Wilde, the lead detective behind the search for the child, told 6PR: "My understanding is the man in custody self-harmed."
He said: "Obviously in modern police stations, there’s CCTV in all the cells and everything else.
"That’s what the understanding was, he was taken to hospital. When he’s declared fit to interview, that’s what we will do.”
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Just seven minutes from her home
After weeks of searching in the Outback, Cleo was found in a room inside a locked house.
The property where the little girl was found was just a seven-minute drive from her family home.
Western Australia Police confirmed that cops broke their way into a locked property at around 1am in Carnarvon, Western Australia.
The tot was found by a group of officers and she told them: “My name is Cleo.”
Little Cleo has now been reunited with her family after a heartbreaking 18 days.
Police say she appeared to be “physically ok” but is currently being cared for in hospital.
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In pictures: Suspect's home FULL of Bratz dolls
The man suspected of taking Cleo Smith's home was full to the rafters of BRATZ dolls.
The American dolls are known for their huge heads and eyes and are aimed at young girls aged around eight to 12.
For the full story click here.
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Doll obsession
The Cleo Smith kidnap suspect was obsessed with Bratz dolls with pictures showing dozens of them in the house where she was found.
Terence Darrell Kelly, 36, was arrested just before officers swooped on a property where they found Cleo, who has now been reunited with her family.
One of Kelly’s many social media profiles is a Facebook page devoted to his obsession with Bratz dolls, an American brand featuring scantily clad teenage figures.
On the page, posted a video of himself with a filter showing hearts with the words “I love my dolls”.
Another picture shows a room dedicated to the dolls, with shelves stacked to the ceiling showing a large number still in the boxes, the Sydney Morning Herald Reports.
Kelly is also pictured with one of the dolls in each hand wearing a Bratz t-shirt with the words: “Nothing beats chilling at home with by Bratz dolls”.
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‘Needle in a haystack’
COPS hunting for Cleo Smith had a mystery “needle in a haystack” clue that led them to the four-year-old’s miracle rescue.
Against what appeared to be unsurmountable odds, officers acting on a tip off swooped down on the property, just seven minutes away from her home.
A 36-year-old man was arrested at 1am and later charged in connection with Cleo’s disappearance, ending an agonising 18-day search that gripped Australia.
Officers remained tight lipped about the exact nature of the final tip off that led them to the girl dubbed the ‘Aussie Maddie’.
But they followed a number of clues from the moment she disappeared that eventually led them to hear her tell them: “My name is Cleo.”
“We had to find that needle. Last night the needle in the haystack came out and they acted in a heartbeat.”
Cleo vanished while at the Blowholes campsite with her mother Ellie Smith, her partner Jake Gliddin and baby sister Isla Mae.
Read the article in full here.
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Nap's strange
A neighbour has alleged they saw the suspect uncharacteristically buying nappies in the last few days, before Cleo was found alive.
“The other day – on Monday – we saw him in Woolworths buying Kimbies [nappies] and that,” neighbour Henry Dodd told Australia’s ‘Sunrise’ news show.
“But we didn’t click why he was buying them for or who he was buying them for.
“Everyone knows the person who stays at that house, but no one would have thought it would be him. We were shocked.”
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Who is the man charged with abduction?
Terence Darrell Kelly was barefoot as he was charged with multiple offences including forcibly taking a child under 16.
He is believed to have no connection with her family and was seized following an anonymous tip-off.
A photo has emerged of the 36-year-old pictured lying down in the ambulance with his bandaged head covered in a blanket after sustaining an injury in jail.
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A child's plea
During the 18 days she was missing, Cleo Smith’s best friend pleaded for the “abducted toddler” to come home because “she needs to stay with her family”.
Lenaya “Naya” Forbes posed beside a drawing she made for her pal who had vanished.
“I still miss her,” little Naya told 7News. “And I reckon she got taken from the tent.
“I still miss her cause she’s lost and I want her to come back.”
No doubt the little girl, who may not fully understand what is going on, will be delighted to she her friend very soon.
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Recap: What did the police say when Cleo was found?
On Tuesday, Deputy Commissioner Col Blanch said in a statement: “It’s my privilege to announce that in the early hours of this morning, the Western Australia Police Force rescued Cleo Smith.
“Cleo is alive and well. A police team broke their way into a locked house in Carnarvon about 1am.
“They found little Cleo in one of the rooms. Cleo was reunited with her parents a short time later.
“This is the outcome we all hoped and prayed for.
“It’s the outcome we’ve achieved because of some incredible police work.
“I want to thank Cleo’s parents, the Western Australian community and the many volunteers.
“I can confirm we have a man from Carnarvon in custody who is currently being questioned by detectives.
“We’ll have more to say on the rescue of Cleo as the day unfolds. For now – Welcome home Cleo.”
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Mapped: Where was Cleo found?
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No other suspects
Lead investigator Detective Superintendent Rod Wilde told reporters police did not have any other suspects in the case.
“It appears as though it was opportunistic,” he said.
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'I'm coming for you'
THE suspect charged with abducting Cleo Smith appeared in court and shouted "I'm coming for you" at the media
Terry Kelly, 36, was barefoot as he was charged with multiple offences including forcibly taking a child under 16.
Kelly nodded that he acknowledged the charges and didn't apply for bail. He was remanded in custody until December 6.
He also objected to reporters being in the hearing, asking the magistrate "what the f*** are the media doing here?"
Kelly then said “I’m coming for you” during the hearing.
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Neighbour heard little girl crying
Local resident Sahntayah McKenzie said she heard the sound of a child crying recently.
She told The West Australian: “Not last night, the night before it…I heard a little girl crying but I wouldn’t expect it to be Cleo.
“I didn’t expect it would happen in this little neighbourhood, a lot of people know each other.”
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How did Cleo go missing?
Dubbed the 'Aussie Maddie McCann,' cops launched a desperate hunt for the child after she went missing from the remote campsite in her pink pyjamas.
Her mum last saw her at 1.30am when she gave her a drink of water, and then her and her partner Jake Gliddon awoke to find the tot missing – sparking a frantic search.
Cleo's disappearance sent shockwaves through the community in Australia.
The police were called around three hours after she was found to be missing as the family had hoped the girl was just hiding nearby – searching the area with other campers.
Authorities previously also offered a $1m reward for information leading to Cleo’s location.
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Neighbours did not suspect 'oddball'
"The other day – on Monday – we saw him in Woolworths buying Kimbies [nappies] and that," neighbour Henry Dodd told Australia's 'Sunrise' news show.
"But we didn't click why he was buying them for or who he was buying them for.
"Everyone knows the person who stays at that house, but no one would have thought it would be him. We were shocked."
Renee Turner drove to her sister’s house on the street where Cleo was found as soon as she heard the news.
She said she went on a construction course with the man who she described as a "very quiet guy" and "a bit of an oddball".
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Little energiser bunny (continued)
Blaine continued: "Finding her caused shock to start with, quickly followed by elation."
"And having seen her a couple times this morning, she is a little energizer bunny.
"She's just a very, very sweet, energetic girl, very trusting and very open with us.
"You know, we all wanted to take turns in holding her.
"It was a really good experience."
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Cleo like a 'little energizer bunny'
COPS who found Cleo Smith have described the four-year-old as a "little energizer bunny" amid details of her miraculous rescue.
Detective Sergeant Cameron Blaine said his team were "elated" when they discovered the little girl – just 18 days after she vanished from her tent at Blowholes campground site in Western Australia.
According to Sky News, Blaine said: "Cleo is physically okay – that was evident from the start."
"It was absolutely fantastic. To see her sitting there was incredible."
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What do we know so far?
- Police broke into a locked house at 1am and found Cleo in one of the rooms
- The 36-year-old man arrested was rushed to hospital twice
- Acting on a sudden tip off cops swooped on the property
- Cleo's relieved mum Ellie said: "Our family is home again"
- Cops revealed Cleo was playing with toys when they burst in
36-year-old man formally charged with abduction
A 36-year-old man has been charged with the abduction of four-year-old Cleo Smith.
Cops arrested Terry Kelly on Wednesday morning just after officers swooped on a property where they found Cleo.
Kelly has now charged with multiple offences including forcibly taking a child under 16.
Little Cleo was carried to safety when she was found safe 18 days after vanishing from Blowholes Campground – just 43 miles from Carnarvon.
She was discovered by police in the early hours of Wednesday after they received a sudden tip-off of her whereabouts.
Officers used battering rams and crowbars to kick in the door to the house – which was just seven minutes away from where she lives with her family.
BREAKING: Suspect charged in Cleo's disappearance
The man arrested after Cleo was rescued from a rundown, locked house on Tuesday has now been charged over her disappearance.
Timeline: The 18 days of Cleo's disappearance
- October 15 – Cleo arrives with her parents and baby sister at Blowhole Campground in Carnarvon, Western Australia
- October 16 1.30am – The four-year-old wakes her mum up for a drink before going back to sleep in the tent she shared with her parents and sister
- October 16 6.30am – Cleo’s mother Ellie wakes to find her daughter has vanished without a trace
- October 18 – Locals urged to check their bins for the missing child’s sleeping bag
- October 21 – Police offer $1million reward to anyone with information that leads them to Cleo
- October 24 – Cleo’s voice is heard on CCTV 20 metres from where she disappeared from the campsite
- October 25 – Cops look for the driver of a car seen between 3am and 3.30am on the morning she vanished
- October 30 – Police launch an air, land and sea search for the four-year-old
- November 2 – Cleo is found by police “alive and well” locked in a room in Carnarvon – just 43 miles from the Blowholes camp
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Police: suspect did not know family
After weeks of searching in the Outback, Cleo was yesterday found in a room inside a locked house near her home.
Her first words were “my name is Cleo” as cops busted open the door and found the girl – 18 days after she vanished from her tent at Blowholes campground site in Western Australia.
The suspect, who police say has no connection with the family, was arrested at the property.
He was seen with his head bandaged after reportedly being attacked by a fellow prisoner who learned what he’d been taken into custody for.
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'Weird' loner accused of kidnap pictured for the first time
The man suspected of abducting Cleo Smith has been pictured after cops revealed the four-year-old was found playing with toys during the midnight raid.
Cops burst into “weird” loner Terry Kelly’s ramshackle home and wept with relief after the girl confirmed her identity, saying: “My name is Cleo.”
Pictured for the first time, 36-year-old Kelly is the prime suspect after little Cleo vanished from her tent at Blowholes campground site in Western Australia.
Read more here.
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First audio of Cleo's rescue released
CLEO Smith’s mum has cradled her as cops released audio of her first words after they rescued her in a dramatic swoop on a suspect’s house.
The four-year-old's first words were "my name is Cleo" as cops busted open the door and found the girl – 18 days after she vanished from her tent at Blowholes campground site in Western Australia.
After weeks of searching in the Outback, Cleo was found in a room inside a locked house.
The property where the little girl was found was just a seven-minute drive from her family home.
Another cop says “come here, come her, I got you bubby” as another says “what’s your name sweetheart?”.
“M-my name is Cleo,” she replies as one of cops says “hello Cleo!" and another says "you're alright bubby".
- Milica Cosic
Eight unanswered questions about Cleo Smith’s disappearance (Continued…)
- What is the suspect “known to police” for? – The 36-year-old man arrested for her abduction is understood to be known to police but they have yet to disclose why. Neighbours say the man had just been released from prison and was “an oddball”.
- What was it that tipped police off to that house? – Police were led to the house after receiving a tip about a car on Tuesday night which they confirmed with forensics and lots of phone data.
But exactly what the tip was has remained confidential. - Has her abductor struck before? – Neighbours have said the arrested man had been in prison before but it is not clear what for. As of yet, the man appears to have no sex offence crimes and was not one of the 20 sex offenders being probed by law enforcement.
But his ability to sneak into the family tent and snatch little Cleo begs the question as to if he has done this before. - What did the kidnapper want? – Keeping a child around in the midst of an intense public and police search would be difficult, especially if you’re not someone with children already.
It begs the question as to what purpose the kidnapper had for her. But one thing is for sure, her parents are grateful she is alive and unharmed.
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