A man in his 30s has been charged in connection with the disappearance.
The Western Australia Police Force have released the audio of the moment when Cleo Smith was found.
Four-year-old Smith had been missing for over two weeks when she was taken from her family’s tent while on holiday in Carnarvon.
In the audio, police can be heard discovering her in a house close to the campsite she had stayed in.
“We’ve got her. We’ve got her”, one police officer can be heard saying.
A detective asks for her name three times before she replies “My name is Cleo”.
"My name is Cleo." pic.twitter.com/xiy59x4kjP
— WA Police Force (@WA_Police) November 4, 2021
Australian police have also released video footage of when Cleo was taken from the house.
“We’re going to take you to see your mummy and daddy”, said one detective after she was confirmed to be safe.
The moment Cleo was rescued 👏 pic.twitter.com/arusYi9kCa
— WA Police Force (@WA_Police) November 3, 2021
Smith has been reunited with her family, and is in good spirits according to Australian detectives.
Speaking to SBS News, detective Cameron Blake described her behaviour since the incident.
“I can only see her from the outside. But from that point of view, I’m amazed that she seems to be so well-adjusted and happy.”
A 36-year-old man was charged today in relation to the incident.
Terence Kelly was brought before court on Thursday morning to be charged with the kidnapping, among other offences.
A follow-up court date has been set for next month.
Kelly had self-harmed while he was in custody, allegedly banging his head against the cell wall repeatedly.
He was brought to a local hospital twice to treat his injuries.
He’s been returned to Carnarvon police station since, and is suspected to have acted alone during the incident.
Western Australian Minister for Police Paul Papalia commended the officers involved in her discovery, saying that it wasn’t “tips or clairvoyance” that helped to find her, but “hard police grind”.
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