Cleo Smith Carnarvon abduction: Accused Terry Kelly’s alleged doll obsession amid first look in home
EXCLUSIVE: How Cleo Smith’s alleged abductor was ‘obsessed with dolls and created social media profiles of his imaginary family’ – as confronting photos emerge of blacked out windows on his derelict house
Terry Kelly has not been charged with offences but remains in police custody He reportedly had an obsession with dolls and created fake social media profilesPolice would not confirm Cleo was held in ‘toy room’ in alleged captor’s homeNeighbours allowed access to Kelly’s backyard, which was void of toys or games
<!–
<!–
<!–<!–
<!–
(function (src, d, tag){
var s = d.createElement(tag), prev = d.getElementsByTagName(tag)[0];
s.src = src;
prev.parentNode.insertBefore(s, prev);
}(“https://www.dailymail.co.uk/static/gunther/1.17.0/async_bundle–.js”, document, “script”));
<!–
DM.loadCSS(“https://www.dailymail.co.uk/static/gunther/gunther-2159/video_bundle–.css”);
<!–
The man arrested moments before Cleo Smith was discovered in a derelict house was allegedly obsessed with dolls and created fake social media profiles of his imaginary family.
Terry Kelly, 36, remains in police custody and is expected to be charged over the 18-day disappearance of Cleo who was dramatically rescued from a Carnarvon house, in Western Australia, in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
Since Kelly’s arrest, multiple social media accounts have emerged which allegedly belonged to him, where he boasts about his love for Bratz dolls.
One social media account is allegedly solely dedicated to his obsession with dolls, showing a room in a house filled with the toys.
It is unknown if the room is in Kelly’s Tonkin Crescent home, where Cleo was found.
When asked about the alleged doll obsession and whether Kelly might have used the toys to lure Cleo, police told media gathered at a press conference that they would not be commenting on it.
Terry Kelly, 36, has not yet been charged with any offences but remains in police custody in Carnarvon, Western Australia, almost 36 hours after he was first arrested
Little Cleo was seen in her mother’s arms holding a balloon and wearing a pink summer dress on Thursday
All of the windows at the home are completely blacked out – hidden from public view – and overgrown shrubs and bushes climb the walls of the housing commission home located in Tonkin Crescent
Junk was seen in Kelly’s backyard on Thursday morning, as police still assessed the home
Other profiles allegedly linked to Kelly detail children and family members, but neighbours and long-time friends of the man said they did not know of him ever having kids of his own.
One of the social media accounts followed Cleo’s mother Ellie Smith, where she begged for help finding her missing four-year-old girl who was taken from a tent while camping at the Blowholes grounds 75km north of their hometown.
Detectives said when they found Cleo inside the house, she was playing with toys. Bodycam footage shows the brave little girl being carried out the house, her hair is clean and brushed and her pyjamas are fresh and clean.
Neighbours allowed Daily Mail Australia inside their property for a glimpse over the fence to Kelly’s home where Cleo was allegedly held for almost three weeks.
Little Cleo looked well groomed when she was rescued from the home just seven minutes’ drive from her family home
There is no sign of any toys or children’s games – instead just a dusty bare yard dotted with rubbish and fence palings
Cleo is carried inside by her mother Ellie holding a pink balloon after Carnavon decorated the town in support of the little girl
Cleo holds her back covered in cartoon princesses as mother Ellie and stepfather Jake walk to the car on Thursday morning
There is no sign of any toys or children’s games – instead just a dusty bare yard dotted with rubbish and fence palings.
All of the windows are completely blacked out – hidden from public view – and overgrown shrubs and bushes climb the walls of the housing commission home located in Tonkin Crescent.
Neighbours say the community is reeling from the revelation the ‘quiet bloke’ at number 18 is allegedly the man at the centre of the world’s biggest kidnapping story.
He reportedly kept his two dogs in the backyard until recently, moving them to the front of the gated home in the past few weeks.
Terry Kelly, 36, had only been at Carnarvon police station, in Western Australia, for a few hours on Wednesday before he was taken to hospital requiring medical treatment
West Australian Premier Mark McGowan is greeted by Cleo Smith’s stepfather during a visit to the rescued girl in Carnarvon
Windows at the rundown property were blacked out as items were stored under an awning
Neighbours tell Daily Mail Australia they still can’t believe little Cleo was right under their noses the whole time.
‘I have kids around the same age,’ Kelly’s adjacent neighbour at number 16 said.
‘I saw (Kelly) coming and going. I didn’t really interact with him, he kept to himself. It’s a pretty friendly neighbourhood but he was closed off.’
The man said he never saw any dolls with his neighbour.
‘I never saw anything like that. I just saw him driving his car up and down the street or hanging around outside (Woolworths) in town.’
Forensics officers, working out of a makeshift tent based outside the house, were seen busily coming and going from the today with police tape cordoning off the site and the surrounding street.
Authorities reportedly broke down in tears upon learning the heartwarming news that Cleo was safe. They say the youngster (pictured) was good as can be expected
Police continue to carry out forensic work at the house where detectives found Cleo locked inside on Wednesday morning
Earlier on Thursday, Detective Senior Sergeant Cameron Blaine said police were not yet in a position to confirm reports of a toy room and the man’s alleged fascination with dolls.
‘I think I’ve said the lights were on and she was playing with toys,’ he said. ‘That’s about all I want to say. This is still a matter that needs to go before the courts.
‘There are certain aspects of what we saw, you know, that is going to be evidence and I really don’t want to say anything that is going to prejudice that.’
Police did, however, confirm they believe the accused acted ‘entirely alone’ in taking Cleo from the campsite.
Charges are expected to be laid later on Thursday as soon as officers conclude interviewing Kelly.
Cleo has spent her first night back home with her mother Ellie Smith, stepfather Jake Gliddon and baby sister following her 18 day disappearance.
Cleo Smith, four, was found alive and well, 18 days after she vanished from her family’s tent at the remote Blowholes campsite in Western Australia
Police speak as they gather extensive amounts of evidence after a 36-year-old man was arrested at the home in Carnavon where Cleo was found
‘She’s been checked out at the hospital and physically she’s ok,’ Superintendent Rod Wilde said.
Cleo will be interviewed by specialist child interviewers at the ‘appropriate time’, but is enjoying playing with her sister and getting lots of cuddles off her mum and stepdad in the meantime.
WA Premier Mark McGowan described Cleo as a delightful and well adjusted little girl after meeting her at the family home earlier in the morning.
‘It was a lovely experience to meet that little girl. She was bubbly, playing, friendly, sweet. She was delightful,’ he said.
‘Fundamentally decent, honest human beings, they were lovely people and it was great to meet them and acknowledge what they have been through.
‘We have a way to go from here, but they are on the right pathway.’
