A top criminal psychologist claims the man who allegedly abducted Cleo Smith is likely to be ‘very bad, not very mad’ – as Perth‘s Lord Mayor calls for the city to ‘turn blue’ to celebrate her homecoming.
The missing four-year-old was found at 12.45am on Wednesday alone in a bedroom in a locked and rundown house in the Carnarvon suburb of Brockman in Western Australia, after being missing for 18 days.
A 36-year-old man has been arrested over the alleged kidnapping from her family’s tent at the Blowholes campsite on October 18, with psychology expert Tim Watson-Munro telling A Current Affair whoever took her was likely meticulous and calculating.
‘I think it’s someone who’s very bad, not very mad,’ he said.
‘A person capable of planning this crime, executing this crime, keeping this thing under raps for nearly three weeks now and not really caring about the consequences.’
Meanwhile, Perth Lord Mayor Basil Zemplas has called on the major buildings around the city to light up blue to honour the tireless work of police officers who beat the odd to find Cleo alive and safe.
A top criminal psychologist says the man who allegedly abducted four-year-old Cleo Smith was likely to be ‘very bad, not very mad’
Police say the 36-year-old man in custody was not previously on the sex offender’s list (pictured, the house where she was found)
Perth Lord Mayor Basil Zemplas has called on the major buildings around the city to light up blue in support of Cleo being found alive and safe. Pictured: Council House in Perth
Cleo, 4, was described as safe and well but was immediately taken to hospital for further tests and to be reunited with relieved and overjoyed parents, Ellie and Jake.
Police feared the missing girl could have been spirited away anywhere in the country – but instead she was under their noses all along just 3km from her home and 75km from the campsite.
Investigators say they are still investigating whether or not Cleo was held in the house for the entire time she had been missing.
Mr Watson-Munro believes the abduction was highly-planned over a significant period of time.
‘He probably waited for the right opportunity to strike. They live in the same country town, he’s probably thought about it for awhile,’ he said.
‘Clearly to have done what he did, in such a brazen way, to escape the crime scene the way he did and keep a lid on it, to me suggests a lot of planning.’
Cleo Smith is ‘physically OK’ according to police as the four-year-old is released from hospital and taken back to her family (pictured in the arms of a police officer in the early hours of Wednesday morning)
Criminal psychology expert Tim Watson-Munro (pictured) told A Current Affair the alleged kidnapper would likely be meticulous and calculating
WA Police released the first photo of Cleo after she was found at a home in Carnarvon on Wednesday morning, having been missing for 18 days – police say she is ‘physically OK’
With Australia joined in celebration after the rescuing of little Cleo, Perth’s Lord Mayor wants the city lit up to further commemorate the work of police.
Basil Zemplas took to Twitter on Wednesday night to thank WA Police for their tireless work in locating the four-year-old, asking major buildings across the capital to show their support.
‘Thank you WA Police for your incredible efforts to find Cleo and reunite her with her family,’ he wrote.
‘Council House, The Bell Tower, Optus Stadium, Elizabeth Quay, Yagan Square, Perth Concert Hall. Can your building go blue to say thank you?’
The Council House was illuminated in blue on Wednesday night, with others around the city set to light up from Thursday night onwards.
Basil Zemplas took to Twitter on Wednesday night to thanks WA Police for their tireless work in locating the four-year-old, asking major buildings across the capital to show their support
The Council House was illuminated in blue on Wednesday night, with others around the city set to light up from Thursday night onwards
When asked if it was the best moment of his career, Detective Sergeant Cameron Blaine replied: ‘without a doubt’
The VUE Tower in Adelaide terrace has confirmed it will light up pink for the little girl, while Fairlaines Ampitheatre will broadcast a large message reading ‘Welcome Home Cleo’.
‘The outpouring of emotion from people across Australia has been unprecedented since the news broke this morning that Cleo had been found,’ Zemplas said.
‘The tireless and amazing work by WA Police in solving this case has been inspirational and the entire state has been overjoyed at the news.
‘Lighting up blue is just a simple gesture on our part to let WA Police, family and friends of Cleo and the Carnarvon community know that we are thinking of them and are relieved that Cleo has been reunited with her family.’