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Tell-all interview with Cleo Smith’s parents reveals unanswered questions

After Cleo Smith’s parents revealed new details of their daughter’s abduction, many questions about the crime remain unanswered.

"He wanted a little doll" Cleo Smith's parents open up on 60 Minutes

The tell-all interview with Cleo Smith’s parents Ellie Smith and Jake Gliddon was riveting television for anyone who has followed the story of her disappearance and miraculous rescue, but it leaves a lot of questions still unanswered.

And it won’t be until the man who snatched Cleo, the Bratz Doll-loving Terence Darrell Kelly, 36, is finally sentenced for his crime, the rest of the story may come out.

A still from the Cleo Smith 60 Minutes interview. Picture: 60 Minutes
A still from the Cleo Smith 60 Minutes interview. Picture: 60 Minutes

Ms Smith has revealed that the kidnapping of little Cleo was not a premeditated crime, rather opportunistic, but she still doesn’t know why he took her – except that he perhaps wanted a “little doll” of his own – nor does she know what he planned to do with her.

There was no mention of what happened to the sleeping bag Cleo was in when she was snatched, or where the new clothes she was wearing when she was found had come from.

A still from the Cleo Smith 60 Minutes interview. Picture: 60 Minutes
A still from the Cleo Smith 60 Minutes interview. Picture: 60 Minutes

There were also no details about how, and when, and where Kelly was able to buy hair dye to use on the four-year old.

Cleo’s parents say they still don’t know the full details of what happened while she was held in Kelly’s house just a few kilometres from their own home.

The West Australian Police who worked so diligently to find and rescue Cleo, combing through CCTV footage, phone records, DNA matches and other clues, did not co-operate with the 60 Minutes Program.

Terence Darrell Kelly is being taken to prison in Perth by SOG for alleged kidnapping of Cleo Smith, Carnarvon Airport. Picture: Colin Murty
Terence Darrell Kelly is being taken to prison in Perth by SOG for alleged kidnapping of Cleo Smith, Carnarvon Airport. Picture: Colin Murty

It is understood that is because the matter is still before the courts. Kelly has pleaded guilty to child stealing, but has not yet been sentenced. When that happens it is likely there will be a glimpse into Kelly’s intentions and actions from the information he has agreed to tell police.

Kelly will face court again in March.

Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/truecrimeaustralia/exclusive-tellall-interview-with-cleo-smiths-parents-reveals-unanswered-questions/news-story/20bcd9a14dae100d7842bdbe83770541