CLEO SMITH FOUND ALIVE AND WELL

After two-and-a-half-weeks of extensive investigation, Carnarvon’s Cleo Smith was found alive and well in a property in Carnarvon in the early hours of Wednesday Morning.

Police responded to a tip-off of a man buying nappies and entered a property around 1am where they discovered Cleo alone in the house.

When detectives discovered found the four-year-old in a bedroom, Senior Sargent Cameron Blaine asked “What’s your name” and she responded “Cleo”.

Cleo is now reunited with her family, who have spent days and nights wondering if they would see their daughter.

Police released the first photo of her since her rescue showing the young girl in good spirits and waving at the photographer.

Cleo disappeared from the Blowholes Campsite at Macleod in the early hours of October 16th when her family woke up and discovered Cleo and her sleeping bag were missing from their tent.

What followed was a national search for Cleo involving multiple government agencies, with Premier Mark McGowan offering a $1 million dollar reward for any information that could lead authorities to Cleo.

A 36-year-old man is now in custody, with neighbour Sana Oakley saying she was only recently speaking with the man and feeling suspicious about his behavior.

“But knowing the perpetrator…it’s a big slap in the face, because my partner lives right next door to him and…were were yarning with him in his backyard….and I had a little feeling to look over the face, but I thought I didn’t want to be seen as nosy”.

Tourism Minister, David Templeman says his department will look at improvement security measures at Blowholes.