The man was arrested yesterday.
Australian police have charged one man in connection with the abduction of Cleo Smith, ABC News reports.
Terence Darrell Kelly appeared at the Carnarvon Magistrates Court on two charges.
The four-year-old girl went missing from her family’s tent last month, and was found alive in a locked house earlier this week.
According to Papalia, the suspect was arrested as a result of “hard police grind”.
He was taken to hospital twice while in police detention. Some outlets have reported that he suffered self-inflicted injuries.
The police investigation into Cleo Smith’s case continues.
The child first went missing on 16 October, and was last seen in her sleeping bag by her parents early that morning.
Officers found Cleo inside a locked house on Tuesday, and she has since been reunited with her parents.
The moment Cleo was rescued 👏 pic.twitter.com/arusYi9kCa
— WA Police Force (@WA_Police) November 3, 2021
Confirming the news, Deputy Commissioner Col Blanch said: “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.”
He added: “This is the outcome we all hoped and prayed for.”
Cleo’s mum, Ellie Smith, posted a photo of Cleo onto her Instagram account and wrote: “Our family is whole again.”
Wednesday saw her spend her first full night with her family after returning home, while public buildings in Perth lit up with blue lights to celebrate the authorities’ work in bringing her home.
Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison welcomed news of Cleo’s safe return on Twitter saying: “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.”
