Cleo Smith: Dolls, pencils seized from house as investigation continues

The alleged abductor of Cleo Smith told a tradesman the dolls removed from his house by forensic officers were for his daughter, according to reports.

A tradesman who once worked on the house of Cleo Smith’s alleged abductor has told police that suspect ­Terence Darrell Kelly told him he had a young daughter.

The tradie who painted inside the Homeswest house on behalf of Western Australia’s public housing department said Mr Kelly, 36, told him he had a daughter, following the painter seeing a room that was decorated for a little girl, with shelves lined with dolls.

According to The Australian, the tradesman is one of several people being interviewed by police after Mr Kelly’s Wednesday arrest.

Investigators are also looking into a self-installed lock on an internal door, which is a violation of state safety guidelines for public housing.

It appears at least one of the rooms in Mr Kelly’s rented residence can be locked from the outside.

It comes as forensic officers seized dolls and colouring pencils from the house of Cleo Smith’s alleged abductor as the investigation continues.

A large forensic tent was erected at the front of the property where the four-year-old was found after being missing for 18 days.

Footage from Seven News showed dolls being removed from the house in plastic bags as well as colouring pencils in a large plastic container.

Supplied Editorial A doll is removed from the scene as police work on the Cleo Smith case.

Forensic officers examine a container full of pens and pencils.

Police officers also examined furniture in the backyard of the one-bedroom property.

It comes as a camper claimed he previously saw Terence Darrell Kelly, the four-year-old’s accused abductor, driving around the campsite where she was allegedly snatched as she slept in her family’s tent.

The camper, who often spends weekends at the Blowholes campsite, told The West Australian he knew of Kelly and had seen him several times at the site, about 70km north of Carnarvon, driving a four-wheel-drive.

Police search the house where Cleo Smith was found. Picture: Colin Murty

Terence Darrell Kelly being taken to prison in Perth. Picture: Colin Murty

But the man said he never saw Mr Kelly camp overnight, The West Australian reports.

Cleo’s disappearance sparked a massive land, air and sea search, and hit headlines around the world.

The four-year-old was allegedly taken from the family tent on October 16 while camping at Quobba Blowholes, 75 km north of Carnarvon, and was missing for 18 days.

She was rescued from a locked house in Carnarvon – located just 1.5km from the local police station and 3km from the child’s family home – just before 1am on Wednesday after detectives forced their way in.

Terence Darrell Kelly, has since been charged with two offences including one count of forcibly taking a child aged under 16.

Cleo Smith is carried inside a friend's house by her mother the day after her rescue. Picture: Tamati Smith/Getty Images

Described as a “loner” Kelly lived alone in a well-known government housing area that locals dubbed “Toxic” Crescent.

Kelly was remanded in custody to face court again on December 6 and is being detained at the maximum-security Casuarina Prison in Perth’s south.

It is understood his grandmother lived with him in the property before she died last year.

Police officers stand on patrol outside a house where four-year-old Cleo Smith was found. Picture: Tamati Smith/Getty Images

Police officers who found the little girl will have their heroic efforts recognised at an official function presided by the Queen’s representative in Western Australia — and Premier Mark

McGowan says they should also get the nation’s highest honour.

Mr McGowan told reporters on Sunday the reception for the 140 member Taskforce Rodia team would be held at Government House or parliament, led by Governor Kim Beazley.

“It will be great to acknowledge all of those police officers and other staff who are involved,” the Labor leader said.

The police officers who found Cleo Smith will have their heroic efforts recognised. Picture: WA Police Force via Getty Images

The awarding of police medals would be decided by Police Commissioner Chris Dawson, Mr McGowan said.

“But I expect there will be some nominations out of all this because it was an extraordinary piece of police work,” he said.

“All of us were amazed — it was such a dim, dark scenario that we were facing and the family was facing, and then they burst into that house and there she was.

“That was a wonderful outcome.”

A journalist suggested the team should get the Australians of the Year award and Mr McGowan agreed.

“It’s a good idea … that’s a great idea,” he said.

“I don’t know if they’ve ever made a mass award of that, but it would be a wonderful acknowledgment of a group of great people who threw their all at it, not just the police officers, but also the analysts behind the scenes who examined all the mobile phone and technological information did a wonderful job.”

Originally published as Cleo Smith: Dolls, pencils seized from house as investigation continues