CLEO SUSPECT
Man arrested over Cleo Smith kidnapping ‘spotted buying nappies as neighbours heard crying from his home’
THE suspect arrested over the disappearance of Cleo Smith was seen buying nappies, a neighbour has said.
Neighbours said they had heard the sound of crying coming from the 36-year-old's house, which is just seven minutes drive from four-year-old Cleo's home.
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After weeks of searching in the Outback, Cleo was yesterday found in a room inside a locked house.
Her 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.
The suspect, who police say has no connection with the family, was arrested at the property.
He seen with his head bandaged after reportedly being attacked by a fellow prisoner who learned what he'd been taken into custody for.
The suspect 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.
"But we didn't click why he was buying them for or who he was buying them for.
"Everyone knows the person who stays at that house, but no one would have thought it would be him. We were shocked."
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Sahntayah McKenzie who lives nearby said she heard the sound of crying one night, but did not connect it to the missing girl.
"Not last night, the night before it… I heard a little girl crying but I wouldn't expect it to be Cleo," she told .
🔵 Read our Cleo Smith blog for the latest updates in the search
"I didn't expect it would happen in this little neighbourhood, a lot of people know each other."
Rennee Turner drove to her sister’s house on the street where Cleo was found as soon as she heard the news.
She said she went on a construction course with the man who she described as a "very quiet guy and "a bit of an oddball".
The property where the little girl was found was just a seven-minute drive from her family home.
What we know so far...
- Police broke into a locked house at 1am and found Cleo in one of the rooms
- A 36-year-old man has been arrested in connection with her disappearance.
- Acting on a sudden tip off cops swooped on the property.
- The house is just a seven minute drive from her family home
- Relieved mum Ellie said: "Our family is home again."
Western Australia Police confirmed that cops broke their way into a locked property at around 1am in Carnarvon, Western Australia.
Little Cleo has now been reunited with her family after a heartbreaking 18 days.
Police say she appeared to be "physically ok" but is currently being cared for in hospital.
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."
Police confirmed Cleo was found "alive and well" - which is the "outcome we prayed for."
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.
'BUYING NAPPIES'
"They found little Cleo in one of the rooms."
He 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 have been desperately looking for, replied: "My name is Cleo."
Commissioner Blanch added: "Cleo was reunited with her parents a short time later.
"This is the outcome we all hoped and prayed for. It’s the outcome we’ve achieved because of some incredible police work.
"I want to thank Cleo’s parents, the Western Australian community and the many volunteers.
"I can confirm we have a man from Carnarvon in custody who is currently being questioned by detectives.
"We’ll have more to say on the rescue of Cleo as the day unfolds. For now - Welcome home Cleo."
Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison praised the police force for their work in rescuing the little girl.
'MY NAME IS CLEO'
"What wonderful, relieving news," he wrote.
"Our prayers answered. Thank you to the many Western Australia Police Force officers involved in finding Cleo and supporting her family."
WA Police Commissioner Chris Dawson said the arrest came after detectives received information that led them to the house.
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 the third time.
Dubbed the 'Aussie Maddie McCann,' cops launched a desperate hunt for the child after she went missing from the remote campsite in her pink pyjamas.
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.
Cleo's disappearance sent shockwaves through the community in Australia.
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".
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Authorities previously also offered a $1m reward for information leading to Cleo’s location.
During the 18 days she was missing, Cleo's best friend pleaded for the "abducted toddler" to come home because "she needs to stay with her family".
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Timeline - The Search for Cleo
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
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
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Cleo Smith is found ALIVE in locked house by cops who arrest man weeks after four-year-old vanished from campsite
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