Child abduction stories are the thing of nightmares. As a society, we're all too familiar with the statistics and how tragic many of these situations end up being.
The family of Cleo Smith find themselves among the lucky ones to have a happy ending to a terrifying situation. The 4-year-old was the subject of a highly publicized search in Western Australia, where her family was camping at the Blowholes campsite in Macleod on October 16 when she was abducted.
Cleo was found by police in the early hours of November 3 in a home about 30 miles from the campsite. It was thrilling for officers, who enjoyed the pleasure of reuniting the little girl, who appeared to be physically unharmed, with her family.
Police found Cleo in a room in the home with all of the lights on. She was awake and playing with toys when officers walked in. When officers asked for her name, she introduced herself as Cleo.
"Cleo was reunited with her parents a short time later," Western Australia Police said of the rescue in a statement, per The Independent.
"This is the outcome we all hoped and prayed for. It's the outcome we’ve achieved because of some incredible police work."
Cleo was taken to an area hospital, where she was found to be physically OK. Specialists were flown in to interview Cleo over the coming days about her experience. Western Australia Premier Mark McGowan also met with Cleo and her family and noted she was "very well adjusted, considering."
He added, "She has done a bit of sleeping and a lot of eating, a lot of lying around and cuddling."
The same day of Cleo's rescue, police arrested 36-year-old Terence Kelly. The exact charges against him are unknown, but they include "forcibly taking a child under 16." Kelly was briefly transported to a hospital after self-harming while in police custody, but he's since returned to jail and is cooperating with authorities.
Police believe that Kelly acted alone and "spontaneously" in the decision to take Cleo. For Cleo's family, that decision led to 18 days of heartache and now immense joy that she is home safe.
"Our family is whole again," noted mom Ellie Smith.
