Cleo Smith abduction suspect spends first night in tough maximum security jail alongside notorious killers
CLEO Smith’s alleged kidnapper has spent his first night locked up with some of Australia’s most violent villains.
Terence Darrell Kelly, 36, arrived at Casuarina Prison south of Perth in shackles yesterday afternoon after being arrested by officers who swooped on a property and rescued the missing four-year-old.
It is alleged Kelly shut little Cleo in this room for 18 days until officers burst in and rescued her in the early hours of Wednesday.
Until at least his next court appearance in December, Kelly will be held at the maximum-security jail, which is home to some of Western Australia’s notorious criminals.
This includes Dante Arthurs who brutally raped and strangled an eight-year-old girl in 2006.
Another lifer is the Claremont serial killer, Bradley Edwards.
In December 2020 he was jailed for at least 40 years for the abduction and murder of two young women in their twenties.
Inmates often savagely attack each other and one prison guard has revealed colleagues being raped, beaten, and robbed at work
Most read in The Sun
The hellish conditions inside Casuarina are a far cry from the quiet life Kelly lived in the council home, just a seven-minute drive from Cleo's family home.
Neighbours describe a “quiet” man who did not have many visitors.
Posts on his Facebook page show he had an interest in Bratz dolls.
Kelly, who is accused of taking Cleo from her family’s tent in Blowholes campground site in Western Australia about three weeks ago, arrived at the jail after appearing in Carnarvon Magistrates Court.
🔵 Read our Cleo Smith blog for the latest updates in the search
He faces several criminal charges including one count of forcibly taking a child under 16.
After weeks of searching in the Outback, Cleo was found in a room inside a locked house.
The property where the little girl was found on Wednesday was just a seven-minute drive from her family home.
In the audio clip, a male police officer can be heard saying “we got her, we got her”.
Kelly had been pulled over by police earlier in the night and taken into custody.
He was questioned for about 30 hours before charges were laid.
Another cop says “come here, come her, I got you bubby” as another says “what’s your name sweetheart?”.
After little Cleo paused for a second, she told police words they had desperately wanted to hear throughout their hunt for her.
“M-my name is Cleo,” she replies as one of the clearly relieved cops says “hello Cleo!” and another says “you’re alright bubby”.
Western Australia Police confirmed that cops broke their way into a locked property at around 1am in Carnarvon, Western Australia.
Our family is whole again
Cleo’s mum Ellie Smith
Police cameras show the moment Cleo was carried in an officer’s arms to safety following the burst in – returning her to her family after 18 days.
Cops revealed they broke down the door of his house in Carnarvon, Western Australia, at 12:46am on Wednesday – where they found Cleo.
Little Cleo has now been reunited with her family after a heartbreaking 18 days.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
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.”
We pay for your stories!
Do you have a story for The Sun news desk?
Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 782 4104. You can WhatsApp us on 07423 720 250. We pay for videos too.
Click here to upload yours.