CLEO Smith has been found ALIVE and well in a locked house after weeks of frantic searching for the tot.
The four-year-old vanished earlier this month, from the Blowholes campground site in Western Australia, where she had been staying with her parents.
After weeks of desperate search, the little girl has now been found.
Western Australia Police confirmed tonight that cops broke their way into a locked house in Carnarvon, Western Australia around 1am where she was found.
Read our Cleo Smith live blog below for the latest updates..
- Joseph Gamp
Neighbour's shock
Police have arrested the suspect – who was described by neighbours as "quiet" and was seen uncharacteristically buying nappies in the last few days.
"The other day – on Monday – we saw him in Woolworths buying Kimbies [nappies] and that," neighbour Henry Dodd told Australia's 'Sunrise' news show.
"Everyone knows the person who stays at that house, but no one would have thought it would be him,' he said. We were shocked."
- Joseph Gamp
Cleo Smith: The latest
- Cleo Smith, four, has been found alive and well after 18 days
- Police broke into a locked house in Carnarvon at 1am
- They found little Cleo in one of the rooms
- The four-year-old has reunited with her family
- Police arrested a man in connection to Cleo’s disappearence
- The man is in custody and is being questioned
Mapped: Cleo Smith found seven-minutes away from home
The property where the little girl was found was just a seven-minute drive from her family home.
She vanished from the Blowholes campsite on October 18.
Western Australia Police confirmed that cops broke their way into a locked property at around 1am in Carnarvon, Western Australia.
- Joseph Gamp
'My name is Cleo'
Cleo has been found as police arrested a 36-year-old "childless loner" described as an "oddball" by neighbours, one of whom heard crying coming from his home.
After weeks of searching in the Outback, Cleo was yesterday found in a room inside a locked house.
The four-year-old's first words were "my name is Cleo" as cops busted open the door and found the girl – 18 days after she vanished from her tent at Blowholes campground site in Western Australia.
- Joseph Gamp
WA Premier elated over Cleo's rescue
State premier Mark McGowan expressed elation at receiving the news overnight.
He first received a call at 1:38 am, but sheepishly admitted: "I didn't answer it, I was asleep." Still, within a few hours, he had received the "lovely" image of the girl smiling from a hospital bed.
"There will be movies made about this," he said. "You never know what to expect, you hope for the best, but you prepare for the worst."
- Louis Allwood
'Our family is whole again'
Little Cleo has now been reunited with her family after a heartbreaking 18 days.
She is receiving care in hospital following her disappearance.
Cleo's mum Ellie Smith spoke out for the first time since the little girl was found, posting the emotional message to Instagram: "Our family is whole again."
- Louis Allwood
Man arrested has 'no connection to family'
The man, 36, was arrested at the property and is currently being questioned by detectives, police said.
He has no connection to the family, it was confirmed.
- Louis Allwood
Neighbours 'shocked' by discovery
Shocked neighbours have described seeing a "quiet man" buying nappies just two days before Cleo was found inside a locked home.
The neighbour told Sunrise: "The other day – on Monday – we saw him in Woolworths buying Kimbies [nappies] and that.
"But we didn't click on what he was buying them for."
Speaking about the man who was arrested, he added: "Everyone knows the person who stays at that house, but no one would have thought it would be him.
"We were shocked."
- Louis Allwood
Timeline of search (Continued…)
- October 21 – Police offer $1million reward to anyone with information that leads them to Cleo
- October 24 – Cleo's voice is heard on CCTV 20 metres from where she disappeared from the campsite
- October 25 – Cops look for the driver of a car seen between 3am and 3.30am on the morning she vanished
- October 30 – Police launch an air, land and sea search for the four-year-old
- November 2 – Cleo is found by police "alive and well" locked in a room in Carnarvon – just 43 miles from the Blowholes camp
- Louis Allwood
Timeline of search
- October 15 – Cleo arrives with her parents and baby sister at Blowhole Campground in Carnarvon, Western Australia
- October 16 1.30am – The four-year-old wakes her mum up for a drink before going back to sleep in the tent she shared with her parents and sister
- October 16 6.30am – Cleo's mother Ellie wakes to find her daughter has vanished without a trace
- October 18 – Locals urged to check their bins for the missing child's sleeping bag
Top cop said 'likely she would have known her abductor'
Meanwhile, Madeleine McCann top cop Jim Gamble previously said Cleo Smith likely would have known her abductor who may be someone who was following the family ahead of their trip.
Mr Gamble – who was the senior child protection officer in the UK investigation into the Maddie case – explained the chance of the girl being taken away silently by a total stranger in the middle of the night was low.
The top cop also added the "pivotal point" of the case was the fact her sleeping bag was missing from the campsite.
He explained you would expect the bag to be left in the tent if little Cleo had wandered off alone.
"On a campsite you can hear a pin drop in the middle of the night," Mr Gamble told The Sun Online.
Cleo's best friend pleaded for her return
During the 18 days she was missing, Cleo Smith's best friend pleaded for the "abducted toddler" to come home because "she needs to stay with her family".
Lenaya "Naya" Forbes posed beside a drawing she made for her pal who had vanished.
"I still miss her," little Naya told 7News. "And I reckon she got taken from the tent.
"I still miss her cause she's lost and I want her to come back."
Police had 'grave concerns' for her safety
The police were called around three hours after she was found to be missing as the family had hoped the girl was just hiding nearby – searching the area with other campers.
Police were searching rugged terrain near the remote campsite for the missing girl and said they had "grave concerns for Cleo’s safety".
'Aussi Maddie McCann'
Dubbed the 'Aussie Maddie McCann,' cops launched a desperate hunt for the child after she went missing from the remote campsite.
Her mum Ellie last saw her at 1.30am when she gave her a drink of water, and then her and her partner Jake Gliddon awoke to find the tot missing – sparking a frantic search.
Despite having a more fortunate ending compared to missing Maddie McCann, Cleo's disappearance sent shockwaves through the community in Australia.
'No stone unturned'
Just yesterday, the police said: "Police investigating the disappearance of four-year-old Cleo Smith continue to leave no stone unturned.
"As part of the investigation, officers collected more than 50 cubic metres of rubbish from roadside bins as far north as Minilya to as far south as Geraldton.
"The rubbish was packed into two trucks and transported to Perth, where four forensics officers and 20 officers spent two days sorting through hundreds of bags, in an effort to find any items that may assist in the investigation."
- Louis Allwood
Police had been getting close
Just days ago, it was reported that police were close to cracking the missing child case as officers were seen probing the family home for a third time.
Police were searching rugged terrain near the remote campsite for the missing girl and said they had "grave concerns for Cleo’s safety".
Authorities previously also offered a $1m reward for information leading to Cleo’s location.
- Louis Allwood
The moment she was found
Deputy Commissioner revealed that one of the officers picked the four-year-old girl up in his arms, before asking what her name was.
The tot, who police and civilians in Australia has been desperately searching for for weeks, replied: "My name is Cleo."
- Louis Allwood
Police statement
Deputy Commissioner Col Blanch said in a statement this evening: "It’s my privilege to announce that in the early hours of this morning, the Western Australia Police Force rescued Cleo Smith.
"Cleo is alive and well.
"A Police team broke their way into a locked house in Carnarvon about 1am.
"They found little Cleo in one of the rooms."
- Louis Allwood
Police confirm
Western Australia Police confirmed tonight that cops broke their way into a locked house in Carnarvon, Western Australia around 1am.
Cleo has been reunited with her family.
The four-year-old was found alive and well.
A man is currently being questioned by detectives, police said.
- Louis Allwood
Weeks of searching
After weeks of desperate search, the little girl has now been found.
Western Australia Police confirmed tonight that cops broke their way into a locked house in Carnarvon, Western Australia around 1am where she was found.
- Louis Allwood
They found her
CLEO Smith has been found ALIVE and well in a locked house after weeks of frantic searching for the tot.
The four-year-old vanished earlier this month, from the Blowholes campground site in Western Australia, where she had been staying with her parents.
- Louis Allwood
MAPPED: Where was Cleo found
After weeks of searching in the Outback, the little girl was today found in a room inside a locked house – which was just a seven-minute drive from her family home.
Western Australia Police confirmed tonight that cops broke their way into a locked property at around 1am in Carnarvon, Western Australia.
- Louis Allwood
'Our prayers answered'
Following the amazing news Australian Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, released a statement thanking police officers for helping find the 4-year-old.
He said "What wonderful, relieving news.Cleo Smith has been found and is home safe and sound. Our prayers answered. Thank you to the many police officers involved in finding Cleo and supporting her family."
- Louis Allwood
Finally safe
CLEO Smith has been FOUND alive and well in a locked house after weeks of frantic searching for the tot as police arrested a man over her disappearance.
The four-year-old vanished 18 days ago from her tent at the Blowholes campground site in Western Australia, where she had been staying with her parents – sparking a nationwide search.
After weeks of desperate searching in the Outback, the little girl was today found in a room inside a locked house.
Western Australia Police confirmed tonight that cops broke their way into a locked property at around 1am in Carnarvon, Western Australia.
- Louis Allwood
What we know so far…
- Cleo Smith, four, has been found alive and well after 18 days
- Police broke into a locked house in Carnarvon at 1am
- They found little Cleo in one of the rooms
- The four-year-old has reunited with her family
- Police arrested a man in connection to Cleo's disappearence
- The man is in custody and is being questioned
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