‘All grown up’: Photos of Cleo Smith emerge three years after abduction
Cleo, who captured the nation in 2021 after she was snatched from a campsite and held captive for 18 days, has just celebrated her seventh birthday.
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Three years ago Australia and a WA family were gripped with fear over the whereabouts of missing girl, Cleo Smith.
On October 16, the four-year-old was abducted from her family’s campsite at Blowholes, 960km north of Perth, and for nearly three weeks, police searched fruitlessly, hoping against hope that the little girl was still alive.
Eighteen days after her parents discovered her missing from her sleeping bag, Cleo was found, safe and well, in a house in Carnarvon having been abducted and held captive by Terence Darrell Kelly.
“My name is Cleo,” the little girl declared to her rescuers in video released by the WA Police and the officers who rescued her.
Cleo recently celebrated her seventh birthday, and judging from a pair of photos shared by 60 Minutes on Wednesday, it looks like she’s thriving.
In one shot, Cleo is dressed in a pink party dress, smiling and holding up a cupcake topped with as much icing as there is cupcake.
In the other photo, she’s standing next to her little sister, Isla.
“Cleo Smith, all grown up. The seven-year-old is enjoying life in Western Australia, loving school and being a big sister to Isla,” the caption read.
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Cleo Smith celebrates seventh birthday
The post attracted thousands of likes and comments.
“Beautiful to see the family so happy and healthy,” one person said.
“Bless your heart, so glad you are living your best life,” said another.
RELATED: Ellie Smith reveals how Cleo’s coping
On October 16, 2021, mum Ellie Smith awoke to every parent’s worst nightmare: her little girl was missing.
The family was camping at the Blowholes campground, 960km north of Perth, when a man unzipped Cleo’s tent and abducted her while she was sleeping.
RELATED: Cleo Smith’s parents break silence
The nation held their breath as police searched frantically for the little girl, who at the time was just four years old.
Land, air and sea were scoured, but there was no trace of Cleo.
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Then on November 3, Cleo was found alive and well, locked in a room in a Carnarvon house that was just a few minutes away from Cleo’s own home.
The rescue was harrowing, with emotional footage showing an officer lifting Cleo into his arms and asking, “What’s your name?”
RELATED: Ellie Smith speaks after Cleo’s kidnapper jailed
“My name is Cleo,” she responded.
Shortly after, Cleo was reunited with her parents, while Terence Darrell Kelly was arrested, charged and convicted with stealing a child.
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Originally published as ‘All grown up’: Photos of Cleo Smith emerge three years after abduction
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