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Cleo Smith found: Mark McGowan says little girl ‘well-adjusted’ after visit to Carnarvon home following rescue

Peter LawThe West Australian
Premier Mark McGowan has visited Cleo in Carnarvon.
Camera IconPremier Mark McGowan has visited Cleo in Carnarvon. Credit: The West Australian

The police officer who found Cleo Smith says he is “amazed she seems to be so well-adjusted and happy” after her 18-day ordeal.

Following her first night with her family after almost three weeks, Cleo was “behaving naturally like a four year old girl should do”, he said.

Mark McGowan also told of meeting Cleo and her family on Thursday morning, the day after the four-year-old girl was rescued.

The Premier described the “lovely experience” of spending time with the “very humble” family and “bubbly, sweet” little girl.

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“She was, I felt, very well-adjusted, considering, and the family were very appreciative of everything that had been done for them,” Mr McGowan said.

“Fundamentally decent, honest human beings, they were lovely people and it was great to meet them and acknowledge what they have been through.

“We have a way to go from here, but they are on the right pathway.”

Premier Mark McGown comes bearing gifts to Cleo's house
Camera IconPremier Mark McGown comes bearing gifts to Cleo's house. Credit: Andrew Ritchie/The West Australian

He gave them two police teddy bears, which were named Rod and Cam after two of the senior cops who led the investigation — Det-Supt Rod Wilde and Det-Sen. Sgt Cameron Blaine.

“I‘m not sure those names will stick, Cleo didn’t seem too enamoured of those names,” Mr McGowan added.

“It was a lovely experience to meet that girl.

“She is bubbly, playing, friendly and sweet. She was eating an icy pole. She told me it was very sticky to eat, she was just delightful.”

Det-Supt Wilde said the 36-year-old suspect remained in custody and charges were expected to be laid later on Thursday.

A magistrate has arrived in Carnarvon ahead of a potential court appearance by the man, who police say “acted solely alone”.

Det-Supt Wilde said officers would remain in town for weeks to come to progress the investigation.

“There is a lot of information we received ... all the statements we take from all the people, over 100 people at the campsite, thousand calls to CrimeStoppers, all the data that we were able to seize with CCTV, other things, looking through phones and other means,” he said.

“It is just getting all that information together, us understanding what has taken place ... it’s a painstaking process, there are thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of pieces of information. It’s really joining the dots.”

He said Cleo had been examined at hospital and “physically she is OK”. The four-year-old will be interviewed by specialists and it would “take as long as it takes”.

On Wednesday Cleo spent her first night with her mother, Ellie, in almost three weeks after she was rescued from her captor. Cleo was found sitting in a bedroom, playing with a toy, about 1am on Wednesday.

The home is just a four-minute drive from the local police station, and 3km from her family home.

Det-Sen. Sgt Blaine, the first police officer to find Cleo, said she was discovered playing with toys in a bedroom with the lights on.

He said Cleo was on Thursday morning “behaving naturally like a four-year-old girl should do and just enjoying being in the presence of her little sister and family”.

“From our point of view, I’m amazed she seems to be so well-adjusted and happy, it was really, heartwarming to see. That she is still laughing,” Det-Sen. Sgt Blaine said.

Deputy Commissioner Col Blanch said on Thursday it was “wonderful” the little family were finally able to rest in safety after “18 days of hell”.

“I am pretty sure they all slept in the same room, cuddling all night,” he said. “For Ellie, Jake, Cleo and family, what an amazing ability to have that night together.”

A police cordon remains at the Tonkin Crescent home of Terry Kelly, with forensic police officers on Thursday morning seen unpacking their gear as their hunt for evidence entered its second day.

Mr Kelly is yet to be charged, with Det-Supt Wilde on Thursday confirming he would be interviewed later in the day if deemed medically fit.

Det-Supt Wilde confirmed the man was conveyed to hospital on Wednesday after self-harming in a holding cell.

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