‘My name is Cleo,’ 4-year-old Australian girl is heard telling cops in touching audio
Police have released touching audio of the moment officers rescued a 4-year-old Australian girl who calmly responded, “My name is Cleo” — 18 days after she was allegedly abducted by a man.
“We’ve got her, we’ve got her,” one officer is heard saying when they entered the house Wednesday in Carnavaron, about a six-minute drive from Cleo Smith’s home.
“Hey, bubby, come here,” another officer says. “I’ve got you, bubby. You’re all right.”
A third cop then says, “What’s your name, sweetheart?”
“M-My name is Cleo,” the girl responds.
“Your name is Cleo,” he confirms. “Hello, Cleo.”
The calm exchange marked the end of the girl’s disappearance from her family’s tent at a campsite on Oct. 16.
On Thursday, Terry Kelly, 36, was charged with various offenses, including one count of forcibly taking a child under 16, police said in a statement.
Detective Sgt. Cameron Blaine, one of the officers who found Cleo, said she was alert and aware at the time she was rescued in the house, where she was found playing with toys.
Blaine told reporters he was elated to find the girl alive and well.
“It was amazing to see her behave like a normal 4-year-old child would,” he said.
