Two weeks after Cleo Smith (4) disappeared from a campsite in western Australia, the police case continues to be a mystery. He was still hopeful to find the child safe and sound, said lead investigator Rod Wilde after media reports from the weekend.
“We are confident, but we are very afraid for their safety and well-being,” admitted the chief inspector. The police now fear that the four-year-old could have been abducted.
CHF 700,000 reward suspended
The fate of the child aroused great sympathy in the country. The government of the state of Western Australia has offered a reward of one million Australian dollars (around 700,000 CHF) for tips on how to find the girl. On Sunday, the police thanked the public on social media for their support. So far, around 200 reports of possible sightings of the child have been received and large amounts of video material have been uploaded from surveillance cameras. “Everything helps, it could be the key to solving this riddle.”
The four-year-old has been missing since October 16. With her mother, her partner and her little sister, she was at a campsite on the coast near Macleod, around 900 kilometers north of the regional capital Perth. According to the mother’s statement, they noticed around 6 a.m. that the blonde girl and her sleeping bag had disappeared from one of the two rooms of the family tent. Her daughter slept there next to her little sister. The tent zipper was opened to a height that the four-year-old could not have reached herself. Since then, there has been no trace of the child.
Among other things, around 20 sex offenders were interviewed
The police searched the well-used and spacious campsite at the time and questioned numerous guests. Helicopters, drones and boats were also used. A special commission with around 100 officials was formed. The police stressed that neither the mother, the significant other nor the biological father of the girl, who lives near Perth, are considered suspects. Investigators also questioned about 20 sex offenders known to the police in the area. The investigators are also looking for a car that left the campsite on the night of the disappearance.
Chief Commissioner Wilde criticized the fact that the mother and partner were also hostile to some users on social media. “You have had to endure some very horrific behavior and comments on the Internet.” He therefore wanted to make it clear that they always help the police in their search. The past few days had been terrible, said the mother. “Everyone is asking us what we need and the only thing we need is for our little girl to come home.” (SDA)