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Cleo Smith search: Missing girl’s tent unzipped at height she could not reach, says Inspector Jon Munday

Staff writersThe West Australian
Cleo Smith has been missing since Saturday.
Camera IconCleo Smith has been missing since Saturday. Credit: facebook/supplied

Police say the tent Cleo Smith was staying in when she disappeared was unzipped at a height which the four-year-old could not reach, leading to “grave concerns” for her safety.

WA Police Inspector Jon Munday said the tent Cleo and her family were staying in at the Blowholes campsite had several entry points which could be unzipped.

The entry which was found open by Cleo’s mother Ellie was a zipped entrance at the front-facing area of the tent, nearest where Cleo was sleeping.

Inspector Jon Munday.
Camera IconInspector Jon Munday. Credit: Jackson Flindell/The West Australian

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Seemingly quashing the theory that Cleo could have wandered off, Insp. Munday said the zipper was too high to be reached by the little girl.

“The positioning of that zipper for the flap is one of the circumstances which has caused us to have grave concerns for Cleo’s safety,” he said.

Forensics officers have examined the tent since Cleo was reported missing on Saturday morning and it is expected it will be taken to Perth for further investigation.

SES crews search the coastline and scrub near Blowholes campsite.
Camera IconSES crews search the coastline and scrub near Blowholes campsite. Credit: Phoebe Pin/Geraldton Guardian

While it is not believed anyone saw Cleo the night before she went missing, Insp. Munday said there was evidence placing Cleo at the Blowholes campsite, although he would not reveal exactly what that evidence was.

Cleo’s mum Ellie and her step-dad Jake Gliddon reported an “interaction” with Cleo about 1.30am before noticing she was no longer in the tent by 6am.

“The account given to us by Cleo’s parents ... there is nothing to indicate to us that that account is anything but accurate and truthful,” Insp. Munday said.

In the fifth day since Cleo was last seen, the search continues in the Carnarvon region where mounted police have now joined SES crews and police.

Cleo Smith (left) was wearing the pyjamas pictured when she disappeared.
Camera IconCleo Smith (left) was wearing the pyjamas pictured when she disappeared. Credit: facebook/supplied

Insp. Munday said crews had not given up hope of finding her in the Blowholes area and were now casting the net wider than the areas the little girl would have been likely to walk to.

Cleo’s mum and step-dad are staying in the region and are clinging to hope she will return.

“They don’t want to leave and that is completely understandable... as you can imagine they don’t know what to do, they’re distraught,” Insp. Munday said.

“We will be here until we are satisfied that Cleo is not in this area, we have searched thoroughly all the high probability areas... we are now extended into the further reaches of the places where Cleo could have possibly walked herself.”

VideoCleo Smith's family have given an emotional interview saying she'd never wander off alone.

Earlier today, police revealed there were almost 20 registered sex offenders living in the Carnarvon area.

Insp. Munday revealed there were no suspects in relation to the case but all those on the sex offenders register had been spoken to as part of the investigation.

“There are certain people, or groups of people we are interested in. Certainly, any registered sex offenders that have been identified as being around the Carnarvon area have been spoken to,” he said.

He also conceded it was possible that people could have left the campsite before police roadblocks were put in place and there could still be people who stayed at the site “that we don’t know about”.

Anyone who was travelling in the area around the time she disappeared is asked to contact police on 131 444.

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