Cleo Smith: Four year-old girl missing from campsite dubbed Australian 'Maddie McCann' as search continues

Cleo Smith
Cleo Smith
Western Australia Police
Max Parry

By Max Parry


Published: 18/10/2021

- 18:59

Updated: 14/02/2023

- 11:39

Australian police are searching for the little girl who disappeared

Australian police are searching for a little girl who disappeared from a campsite three days ago.

Ellie, mother of four-year-old Cleo Smith, was sharing a tent at the Blow Holes campsite with her daughter on the coast of Western Australia.


According to Ellie, she and Cleo had an "interaction" at approximately 1.30am. However, by the time she'd awoken at 6am her daughter was gone.

She is yet to be seen.

Cleo was sleeping in pink and purple pyjamas with blue and yellow details
Cleo was sleeping in pink and purple pyjamas with blue and yellow details
WA Police

Australian officers have "grave concerns" for the safety of four-year-old Cleo. They have not ruled out the idea she was taken from the tent.

The case has drawn immediate comparisons with the 2007 disappearance of then 3-year-old Madeleine McCann - who went missing from her family's Praia da Luz apartment.

The authorities say Cleo was last seen in a pink/purple one-piece sleep-suit that has a blue and yellow pattern.

Cleo is 3ft, 7ins tall with honey-blonde hair and hazel-coloured eyes.

She was sleeping in a red and black sleeping bag which is also believed to be missing.

Leading the search is Inspector Jon Munday said on Monday that 'everything is still on the table' including the potential that Cleo was snatched.

Sleeping bag similar to the one Cleo was sleeping in
Sleeping bag similar to the one Cleo was sleeping in
WA Police

Munday has confirmed search efforts have been expanded to several coastal properties, such as shacks.

Vehicle-searches are also being undertaken.

A caravan thought to be driving from the site, is also being searched.

"We’ve gathered a lot of information and a lot of intelligence from things like dashcams, CCTV cameras around the place [and] at roadhouses," Inspector Munday said.

The possibility Cleo walked out of the tent and got lost has not been ruled out he said.

"We’re going as hard as we can for as long as we can to try to find Cleo."

Daniel Staines, Cleo's father, has been questioned - however there isn't any suggestion that he is involved in the disappearance.

"We are really interested in anybody who was at The Blowholes campsite from Friday the 15th of October through to Sunday," Inspector Munday said.

"You don't even have to have stayed here, even if you just passed through. We need to speak to you... so we can track and trace where people were."

"And if anybody has any dashcam footage or any footage at all of the area we really would be interested in those people coming forward."

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