Huge reward for Cleo Smith information ‘unlikely’ to be claimed, police say

The $1 million reward for information leading to the discovery of missing four-year-old Cleo Smith is ‘unlikely’ to be claimed, police say.

A $1m reward for information leading to the discovery of Cleo Smith is “unlikely” to be claimed.

The West Australian government offered the reward in the early days of the investigation as authorities scrambled to find the four-year-old after she disappeared from her family’s tent at the Quobba Blowholes campground at Macleod, near Carnarvon, in the early hours of October 16.

Eighteen days later, officers found the little girl inside a locked house in Carnarvon at 12.46am after receiving intelligence late on Tuesday.

“Intelligence led them to that house. They went into that house, Cleo was in the house alone,” WA Police acting commissioner Col Blanch said.

When asked if he thought the reward would be claimed, he replied: “I don’t believe so, no.”

Commissioner Blanch said the offer of a reward early in the investigation helped raised the profile of the case.

“It raised the profile so much that we had the community come out in strong support - everyone was looking for Cleo,” he told Seven’s Sunrise program.

“Everyone was rallying, everyone rang up Crimestoppers.

“The information that came in as a result as a collective always helps point us in the right direction.

“It’s a massive jigsaw puzzle and we put it together.”

Four-year-old Cleo Smith has been found ‘alive and well’ after going missing from a WA campsite 18 days ago.

Commissioner Blanch said the team of 100 in the taskforce dedicated to finding Cleo had collected thousands of pieces of evidence over the past 18 days.

“That has been a hard, hard slog and they’ve been looking for that needle in a haystack.

“And late last night, they found that needle that led them to that address and rescued Cleo - just an amazing moment.

“I still can’t believe it at this time.”

The house Cleo was rescued from in the early hours of Wednesday is just minutes from where she lives.

WA Premier Mark McGowan expressed “surprise” the girl had been found alive and well, adding it is “a very exciting day”.

“I know we’re all so pleased and so happy with the great news,” Mr McGowan told reporters.

“It’s remarkable, exciting, uplifting news that was a surprise, I’m sure, to all of us but the result of some great police work by some great people.

“I’d like to especially acknowledge the West Australian police and in particular Superintendent Rod Wilde who led the taskforce.”

Mr McGowan said police had “put their heart and soul” into the investigation and did not leave any stone unturned.

He said Police Commissioner Chris Dawson was “so excited, he was almost emotional” when they spoke.

The case had struck at the hearts of Australians and was reported overseas.

Mr McGowan acknowledged the analysts who worked behind the scenes to solve the mystery.

He also recognised the Carnarvon community for their support and information that “helped uncover what has occurred”.

“So, everyone involved — just a marvellous job,” the Premier said.

“It’s amazing piece of police work and amazing piece of detective work.

“I think this will be looked at by police forces around the nation — and indeed around the world — as to what can be done if you have the right people and the right way of looking at it, and you do it methodically with determination, which is exactly what has occurred here.”

Mr McGowan also revealed he had received a text message at 1.38am from the police commissioner but did not answer it because he was asleep.

“I woke up about 3am and I saw the message,” Mr McGowan said.

“He sent me a photo of little Cleo in a hospital bed, sitting there smiling, so it was a wonderful piece of news.”

Mr McGowan said in such a situation, you had to hope for the best but prepare for the worst.

WA Premier Mark McGowan said he was ‘surprised’ that Cleo had been found alive and well. Picture: 9 News

A police team broke into the locked house in WA’s north about 1am on Wednesday and found the girl in a room.

When one of the officers picked her up and asked her what her name was, she responded “my name is Cleo”.

Mr McGowan said it must have been a “spine-tingling” moment and “no doubt an amazing piece of video”.

The Premier said it was “remarkably brazen and shocking” to snatch Cleo from the tent.

“It’s beyond belief, really, that someone would do that,” he said.

Mr McGowan said Cleo’s mother Ellie Smith and stepfather Jake Gliddon had been through trauma, vicious attacks online and sad times since she vanished.

He said he had not yet spoken to Cleo’s parents.

Smiling, Mr McGowan said when he spoke to the analysts, they all joked about who would play the main people involved in the case in a movie about it.

“I’ve got a few ideas as to who might play who,” he quipped.

Deputy Commissioner Col Blanch said a Carnarvon man is in custody.

Earlier, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Australia’s “prayers (have been) answered”.

Mr Morrison, who is on his way home from Europe, tweeted the news was “wonderful, relieving”.

“Thank you to the many police officers involved in finding Cleo and supporting her family,” he wrote.

Federal opposition leader Anthony Albanese also thanked the hundreds of people involved in the search.

“Such happy news,” he tweeted.

“To all those who tirelessly searched for this little girl, you deserve our thanks.”

Labor’s spokeswoman for education Tanya Plibersek also joined the chorus welcoming the news.

“Cleo Smith is safely back in the arms of her parents. Wonderful news,” she said.

“What this family has been through is every parents’ worst nightmare. To the WA Police, and the community who joined the search, thanks.

“Welcome home Cleo.”

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the news was “incredible”.

“I know Queenslanders are thinking of them (Cleo’s family) today,” she said.

A 36-year-old man from Carnarvon has been taken into custody. No charges have been laid.

Investigators believed the girl was abducted, ruling out her being able to open the zipper on the tent to the height at which it was found.

They had been working on the theory that the kidnapper was opportunistic.

Originally published as Huge reward for Cleo Smith information ‘unlikely’ to be claimed, police say