‘Doesn’t get any worse’: Lead detective’s bleak update Cleo Smith’s disappearance
The top detective investigating Cleo Smith’s disappearance has given an update on the case today, and it’s not good news.
The top detective investigating Cleo Smith’s disappearance has given a bleak update this morning, saying the details around the case “don't get any worse” and that police now strongly believe someone else was involved.
Detective Superintendent Rod Wilde from WA Police spoke on the Today show where he revealed that, despite almost a week of searching the area where she vanished, the hunt for the missing four-year-old “hasn’t led us anywhere”.
“So that, gathered with some of the evidence that we have gained from the tent and the surrounds there, has led us to believe that possibly someone else was involved in her disappearance,” he said.
“The team is working around the clock to investigate all of those leads and we are hopeful that that may lead us to discovering where Cleo is.”
He added that there were still no suspects, but he was hoping that would change as new information came in.
“There is a lot of information that has come in. So we are going through that methodically. Look, we are hopeful that will lead us to discovering where she is,” he said.
He also spoke about the impact of the disappearance on Cleo’s family.
“Look, it doesn’t get any worse,” he said. “We know that. We really feel for the parents.”
The interview came shortly after Cleo’s mum Ellie made a desperate plea directly to her daughter almost seven days after she disappeared from her family’s tent in Western Australia.
On Thursday night Ms Smith took to Instagram to say: “My Princess, where are you.”
She posted alongside a WA Police video announcing a $1 million reward for information which leads to her return, or the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in her suspicious disappearance.
The little girl’s mother and stepfather remain at the isolated camp site where she was last seen, hoping against the odds she will be found safe nearby.
They are now the only people — other than those searching for their little girl — who remain at the campground.
Ms Smith hadn’t been posting regularly on social media — but yesterday she posted twice.
“I miss you I love you,” she wrote on Instagram yesterday morning. “Please come home to me.”
West Australian police have appealed to the public to look for any signs that might bring answers to the whereabouts of the missing girl as a huge reward is offered for more information.
On Thursday, West Australian Premier Mark McGowan announced a $1 million reward to anyone who has information that can help authorities find the missing girl.
It has been six days since the four-year-old disappeared from her family’s tent — and police have admitted there are few leads, no suspects and no sign of where she went.
“It is a sad situation and very difficult situation. Naturally, our thoughts go to everyone involved, especially the family and friends of Cleo. We have ensured that we have delivered all the resources that police have requested in relation to this case. Police are looking around the clock to try and find Cleo right now,” Mr McGowan told reporters.
“We’re going to offer a $1 million reward to anyone who provides information that leads us to finding Cleo. They will hopefully allow us to help discover the location of Cleo as soon as possible.
“I urge anyone who has any knowledge of the location of Cleo, please provide that information to police and ensure that we can provide some certainty and information to Cleo’s loved ones. And hopefully bring Cleo back safe and sound.”
Public urge public to spot signs
More than 100 police personnel, army reserves and volunteers are currently involved in an “extensive land, sea and air search”.
Deputy Police Commissioner Col Blanch said while a large number of police had been tasked to the case, the public were also tasked with looking for signs that might lead to more clues or information.
“It’s not just up to police to find Cleo, this is why we’re making a public appeal,” he said.
“Today’s announcement is to say, everyone needs to be looking for Cleo.
“Look at people who have acted strangely since the 16th, look at people who have been in that area. Are you not quite sure what happened? Ask questions.”
He said the reward “is a significant step towards establishment of finding where Cleo is”.
“The co-operation of the community is what we are urgently seeking. I ask the community, if you see anything, if you have seen anything or you know anything, please call Crime Stoppers or walk into any police station across Australia,” he added.
“Someone in our community knows what happened to Cleo. Someone has the knowledge that can help. Now there’s a million reasons why you need to come forward.”
Detective Superintendent Rod Wilde said authorities remain “hopeful that we will find Cleo alive”.
“But we hold great fears for her safety. The information we have received, we have not been able to locate her, we imagine we would locate her given the amount of resources and the detailed search that is taking place, that leads us to believe that she was taken from [the campsite],” he said.
Asked whether he thought Cleo had been taken by someone not known to her, he said that police are keeping “an open mind in relation to that and look at all those (possibilities)”.
Commissioner Blanch said “the likelihood of [Cleo] being taken and removed from the area” is now higher.
Premier Mark McGowan and Police Minister Paul Papalia alongside Deputy Commissioner Col Blanch will provide an update to support the investigation into the disappearance of Cleo Smith today at 12.30pm.
— WA Police Force (@WA_Police) October 21, 2021
We will be livestreaming from our Facebook page: https://t.co/DjgWhxI94Bpic.twitter.com/UlnJ2hQ9LP
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