“It’s a very sad situation”
Police in Western Australia has updated the public on the disappearance of 4-year-old Cleo Smith.
They believe the young girl was abducted from her family’s tent on Saturday, October 16th.
Speaking to reporters, the investigators revealed the tent was opened too high for the young girl to reach. This means an adult would have had to open it on the morning she vanished.
They have ruled out the possibility the 4-year-old wandered off on her own.
Detectives say all signs point to young Cleo being abducted six days ago.
They stressed that they have not given up hope of finding the young girl alive.
A $1 million reward has been offered to anyone with information that will lead to Cleo’s location.
https://twitter.com/WA_Police/status/1451090929083813891
Detective Superintendent Rob Wilde told reporters: “Given the information now that we’ve gleaned from the scene, the fact that the search has gone on for this period of time and we haven’t been able to locate her … it leads us to believe that she was taken from the tent.”
Over 100 police officers and the army are currently undertaking an extensive land search for the young girl.
However, as each day passes, detectives fear Cleo has been moved interstate.
WA Premier Mark McGowan added, “It’s a very sad situation, a very difficult situation. I just urge anyone who has any knowledge of the location of Cleo, please provide that information to police and ensure that we can provide some certainty and information to Cleo’s loved ones and hopefully bring Cleo back safe and sound.”
Cleo’s mum last seen her at 1.30 am on October 16th. The young girl woke up and asked her mum for some water.
When her mother woke up at 6am she discovered Cleo and her sleeping bag were missing from the tent.
She issued a heartbreaking plea earlier this week. She said someone knows where her little girl is and begged them to contact the authorities.
Her mum stressed, “She would never leave that tent alone.”
“We sit and watch the sand dunes and think she’s going to run down it and back into our arms, but we’re still waiting.”
