Carla La Tella
Legal

Missing piece of the Cleo Smith puzzle

Images: Getty

Detectives continue the search for the sleeping bag Cleo Smith was curled up in when she was allegedly snatched from her tent at the Blowholes campsite.

A police spokesperson said it was believed the red and grey sleeping bag was still unaccounted for.

Forensic teams continue to examine other items from the site and the Carnarvon home where the four-year-old was found after being missing for 18 days.

The sleeping bag was deemed a critical item during the search, with police releasing a image that was on missing person posters all over the country.

Motorists travelling on the North West Coastal Highway have even been urged to keep an eye out for the item as police conducted search through roadside bins.

Officers went through 50 cubic metres of rubbish recovered from bins from Minilya to Geraldton, but the sleeping bag was not found.

The item was also not found at the home of Terence Kelly, who is currently behind bars for the alleged abduction of Cleo Smith from her tent.

Further charges could be laid but over the abduction of Cleo, but WA deputy Police commissioner ruled out claims that a “mystery woman” was being investigated.

Cleo Smith vanished from her family's tent while on a camping trip at the Quobba Blowholes on October 16th, and was rescued 18 days later.

Terence Darrell Kelly has been charged with two offences, including one count of forcibly taking a child aged under 16.

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cleo smith, Perth, western Australia, Police, Legal