Hunt for Cleo Smith as abduction fears grow

Her sleeping bag disappeared with her, and campers reportedly heard a car skidding its wheels as it took off from the area.

Four-year-old Cleo, who was last seen on Saturday at the Blowholes campsite in Macleod, 960km north of Perth. Picture: Facebook

Forensics officers and homicide squad detectives combed beach shacks along an idyllic stretch of West Australian coast on Monday in a search for a four-year-old girl who vanished from a tent in the early hours of Saturday.

Police have closely guarded what they know so far about the disappearance of Cleo Smith at the Blowholes campsite, 960km north of Perth.

Her sleeping bag disappeared with her, and some campers reportedly heard a car skidding its wheels as it took off from the area about 3am on Saturday.

Australian Defence Force drones are helping with the land, air and sea search for Cleo.

A decision by WA Police on Monday to release a photograph of a black and grey sleeping bag with red lining that closely resembles Cleo’s has fuelled speculation that investigators increasingly suspect she may have been abducted while she was in it.

The Blowholes campsite.

Inspector Jon Munday on Monday said he could not comment on whether the family tent was zipped up or open when it was discovered Cleo was missing.

He also said he could not reveal whether any tracks had been found near the tent.

Police say Cleo was last seen about 1.30am on Saturday in the family tent at the Blowholes campsite, 50km north of the fruit-growing town of Carnarvon.

“Cleo was put to bed by her parents on the evening of Friday October 15 and around 6am she wasn’t there,” Inspector Munday said. “That is what we know. That is the starting point.”

Inspector Munday said his colleagues had spoken to family members about Cleo’s disappearance. “I can’t comment on specifics of what we have uncovered or what we haven’t uncovered,” he said.

 

The Seven Network reported on Monday that Cleo’s biological father had voluntarily given a statement to police in Mandurah, 1000km south of the blowholes.

Although the campsite is named after dangerous blowholes nearby, it is popular with families because it is closest to a protected beach with waters that are often calm. The sea search was scaled back late on Monday.

Inspector Munday said WA police had not ruled out any scenario and were not taking a blinkered view of what might have happened to Cleo. He said they held grave fears for her.

Inspector Munday said Cleo’s mother, Ellie, and her partner remained nearby as the search continued. “They’re still in the area; they are finding it hard to know what to do,” he said.

“We are supporting them as best we can in that regard.”

On Sunday morning, Cleo’s mother posted a public message on Facebook with photographs of the four-year-old in the bright pink sleepsuit she was wearing when she disappeared. ”It’s been over 24 hours since I last seen the sparkle in my little girl’s eyes! Please help me find her! If you hear or see anything at all please call the police!” she wrote.

Police and State Emergency Services searchers continued to scour the bush around the campsite on Monday. Police were also examining dashcam footage uploaded to a WA police portal by people in the area since Friday.

They had also seized footage from roadhouses and other tourist spots to try to determine which cars had been in the region before and after Cleo disappeared.

Police were calling on anyone in the area since Friday - either at the campsite or on the nearby highway - to contact them. They believe some members of the public may have seen something they did not ­realise was important to the ­investigation.