GONE WITHOUT A TRACE
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15
6.30pm The family arrives at Blowholes Campground in Macleod, 70km north of Carnarvon in Western Australia’s north.
8.30pm Cleo goes to bed.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 16
1.30am Cleo wakes and asks for water, then goes back to sleep. Ellie Smith checks on Cleo’s younger sister, Isla, before going back to bed too.
6am Ellie Smith wakes up to feed Isla, sees Cleo and her sleeping bag are missing, and the tent zip is open. She alerts Cleo’s stepfather Jake Gliddon and they begin searching the area but cannot find her, so they call the police.
Mid-morning Police begin their air, land and sea search. Police also launch an investigation to explore the possibility that Cleo was abducted. Police alert the media about Cleo’s disappearance, saying
she was last seen wearing a pink/ purple one-piece jumpsuit with a blue and yellow pattern.
9.45am, then edited the following morning at 1.45am, Ms Smith posts about her daughter’s disappearance on Facebook, pleading for information.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 17
The search escalates, police say they have “grave fears” for Cleo, describing the situation as “extremely disturbing”. Intelligence gathered includes CCTV and dash-cam footage. Police also continue to collect information on
people at the camp site. A GoFundMe page is set up to help Cleo’s family and the search efforts, raising thousands of dollars.
MONDAY, OCTOBER 18
Cleo’s biological father, Daniel Staines, is questioned in Mandurah. Police say it is standard procedure and there is no suggestion Mr Staines has anything to do with the girl’s disappearance. Officers search shacks along the coastline near the camp site.
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 19
Wild weather hinders the search for several hours in the morning before getting back on track.
Ms Smith speaks publicly, describing the past few days as “horrendous”, and insisting Cleo would never wander off.
“She would never leave that tent alone,” she says.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 20
Police confirm the tent zipper was open beyond a height Cleo could have reached herself and her sleeping bag was missing.
Police reveal up to 20 registered sex offenders live in the Carnarvon area. They are spoken to, but police say they have no suspects in relation to the case.
Reports of people hearing “certain noises” and seeing suspicious activity that night, including claims of a car screeching about 3am. Police say: “It is a little bit unsubstantiated, but we haven’t ruled it out.”
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 21
Police say 100 officers are working on the investigation and they believe Cleo has been abducted. West Australian Premier Mark McGowan announces a $1 million reward for information that results in finding Cleo, or leading to the arrest and conviction of whoever is involved in her suspicious disappearance.
Ms Smith posts on Instagram: “My sweet girl, come home to me. If anyone sees anything at all, please call the police.”
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22
Investigations continue.