Cleo Smith’s family hold their breath as the man who kidnapped the little girl from her tent will learn his fate TODAY
- Man who kidnapped girl to learn fate
- Cleo Smith has been removed from the campsite
- Terence Darrell Kelly is convicted
The man who admitted to kidnapping four-year-old Cleo Smith from her family’s campsite in Western Australia will finally learn his fate.
Terence Darrell Kelly, 37, pleaded guilty last year to one count of kidnapping a child under the age of 16.
He will be sentenced in WA District Court on Wednesday and could face up to 20 years in prison.
Cleo was reported missing on October 16, 2021. She was staying with her family at the remote Blowholes campground, about 600 miles north of Perth.
Her mother Ellie Smith woke up early in the morning to find Cleo missing from the family tent, sparking a major police investigation.
Terence Darrell Kelly (pictured centre), 37, pleaded guilty to one charge last year of forcibly taking a child under 16
Mother Ellie Smith (pictured with Cleo and partner Jake Gliddon) awoke in the early morning to find four-year-old Cleo Smith missing from the family tent, sparking a major police investigation
Cleo was reported missing on October 16, 2021. She was staying with her family at the remote Blowholes campsite (pictured), about 600 miles north of Perth.
The WA government announced a $1 million reward for information leading to Cleo’s location or to the arrest and conviction of people involved in her disappearance.
Cleo was found by police alone in a room of a property in nearby Carnarvon on November 3, 18 days after she was reported missing.
The dramatic rescue and Cleo’s confirmation of her name were captured by an officer’s body-worn camera and subsequently made headlines around the world.
Kelly was taken into custody the same day and later charged.
Earlier this year, he was fined after admitting obstructing police officers at a regional office in the wake of his arrest.