Cleo Smith’s family have shared a miraculous update on their daughter’s development, three years after she was abducted.
Cleo made international headlines when she was ripped from her sleeping bag on October 16, 2021, while sleeping next to her mother, stepfather and baby sister in a tent at the Blowholes campground, about 960km north of Perth, Western Australia.
A massive police operation was launched for Cleo, who was four years old at the time, leading to a dramatic rescue 18 days later.
Cleo is now seven years old and has adjusted to a normal life after the horrific kidnapping and the intense media attention.
A collection of photos shared to Instagram by 60 Minutes Australia on Wednesday showed a beaming Cleo enjoying life with her family.
In one photo, Cleo was seen smiling alongside her mother Ellie Smith, stepfather Jake Gliddon and sister Isla.
The snaps showed happy moments from Cleo’s life, including a family fishing trip, Isla’s first birthday, her seventh birthday and the sisters’ first day of school in 2024.
“Cleo Smith is all grown up. The seven-year-old is enjoying life in Western Australia, loving school and being a big sister to Isla,” wrote 60 Minutes Australia.
Cleo Smith’s family have shared cheerful snaps of their seven-year-old daughter adjusting to normal life after being kidnapped in 2021
The smiling seven-year-old was photographed with her mother, stepfather and little sister (pictured)
In the picture: Cleo and her little sister Isla
Photos showed Cleo and Isla on a fishing trip
Cleo seems to share a very special bond with her younger sister
The photos received an overwhelming response from social media users around the world, with many congratulating the family and Cleo.
“Beautiful to see the family so happy and healthy,” one person wrote.
“What a blessing, I’m so glad you’re living your best life,” someone else commented.
A third person wrote: ‘It’s so good to see her happy! I’ve been following her story from Argentina. Keep enjoying life Cleo!’
Cleo was reunited with her family after police officers rescued her from a home 18 days after her abduction.
Police broke down the locked door of a house Carnarvon – plain 3 km from her family’s home – at 00:46 on November 3, 2021, freeing the little girl.
Cleo and her sister Isla in a photo for the first day of school
The Smith sisters enjoy an ice cube after a color run
Cleo, then four, was rescued from her home (pictured) 18 days after she was abducted from her sleeping bag while in a tent with her family at a campsite in Western Australia
Terrence Darrell Kelly (left) held Cleo captive by locking her in a bedroom at a house in Carnarvon. Kelly was sentenced to 13.5 years in prison
Cleo was held captive by Terrence Darrell Kelly and locked alone in a bedroom of the house.
They found the four-year-old girl in a bedroom, playing with toys. They immediately asked her her name three times, before she finally responded, “M-my name is Cleo.”
Terence Kelly was arrested and subsequently charged with forcible taking of a child under the age of 16.
He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 13.5 years in prison on April 5, 2023. The sentence was backdated to his arrest in November 2021.
Kelly will be 48 years old when he is eligible for parole in May 2032.
