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Police expect charges will be laid against the only suspect, a 36-year-old Carnarvon man who police allege “acted solely alone” in abducting the little girl.
Cleo vanished from her family tent from the Quobba Blowholes campsite near Carnarvon in the early hours of Saturday, October 16. Her disappearance sparked a major 18-day land, air and sea police search investigation.
The elating discovery that Cleo was alive and well has seen the whole of Australia celebrating and seasoned detectives working on the case "openly crying with relief.”
The tight nit coastal town of Carnarvon has been decked out with balloons and “welcome home” signs as the community celebrates the incredible news.
Sergeant Blaine said police are still remaining cautious about details and have asked Cleo’s parents to exercise the same caution.
“This is still a matter that needs to go before the courts, there’s certain aspects of what we saw that is going to be evidence, and I don’t want to say anything that’s going to prejudice that,” he said.
Cleo was spotted with her mum for the first time since her rescue a short time ago. The little girl smiled for the cameras, holding a pink balloon as the family packed their car and left their house.
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