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Cleo Smith search: Police return to missing four-year-old’s family home in hunt for clues

Brianna DuganThe West Australian
A police forensics officer removes items from Cleo Smith’s family home. Her parents are not considered suspects in her disappearance.
Camera IconA police forensics officer removes items from Cleo Smith’s family home. Her parents are not considered suspects in her disappearance. Credit: Jackson Flindell/The West Australian

Forensics officers have returned to Cleo Smith’s Carnarvon family home, scouring the inside for evidence that could lead to a breakthrough in the case.

It comes after Assistant Commissioner Col Blanch said on Wednesday that police must do a “thorough investigation”, and that the parents are not suspects in the four-year-old’s disappearance.

Cleo Smith, 4, disappeared from the Blowholes campsite in the early hours of October 16.
Camera IconCleo Smith, 4, disappeared from the Blowholes campsite in the early hours of October 16. Credit: Ellie Smith/Facebook

“The parents have been nothing but helpful. We’ve worked very closely with them, they’ve let us into their home, they’ve let us into their cars, their phones, everything,” Mr Blanch told 6PR.

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“Our job is to eliminate everyone that was at that campsite, and that is a systematic and thorough approach in doing so in any investigation. And that really is the focus of the investigation at the moment.”

On Wednesday officers were seen wearing gloves and masks as they conducted their search inside the home, and they also turned their attention to the perimeter of the Illingworth Street property.

It is the second day the police forensics team has spent inside Cleo’s Carnarvon home.
Camera IconIt is the second day the police forensics team has spent inside Cleo’s Carnarvon home. Credit: Jackson Flindell/The West Australian

A forensics officer took a camera into the house and at least two evidence bags were removed. However, it remains unclear what was in them.

Forensics officers pulled their car into the driveway of the house and shut the gate, so it is not known whether they bagged any further evidence.

Officers left the home about 12.40pm.

It is the second time forensics officers have searched inside the home, with the team spending more than seven hours there on Tuesday: taking photos and using flash lights to examine walls before leaving about 10.30pm.

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