Cleo Smith: Mark McGowan offers $1million reward for missing Carnarvon girl

Cleo Smith: Mark McGowan offers $1million reward for missing Carnarvon girl
Cleo Smith: Mark McGowan offers $1million reward for missing Carnarvon girl

Missing girl Cleo Smith's disappearance is now being treated as a murder.

West Australian Premier Mark McGowan on Thursday offered a $1million reward for any information relating to the discovery of the missing four-year-old girl.

The premier, flanked by Police Minister Paul Papalia and Deputy Commissioner Col Blanch, confirmed on Friday police believe Cleo was abducted as they work 'around the clock' to help bring her home to her family 'safe and sound'. 

There are hopes a $1million reward will incentivise anybody with information to come forward to detectives. 

Taskforce RODIA has been established to help piece together the events leading to and immediately after Cleo's disappearance.  

The four-year-old Carnarvon girl has been missing for six days after she disappeared from a tent she shared with her mum, stepdad and baby sister on Saturday.

She was last seen when she woke her mum Ellie Smith up about 1.30am to ask for a sip of water. When Ms Smith got up again about 6am to feed Cleo's sister Isla, she realised Cleo and her sleeping bag were gone. 

Friends of Cleo's family said the smart four-year-old (pictured) 'wouldn't just wander' away from the tent

Friends of Cleo's family said the smart four-year-old (pictured) 'wouldn't just wander' away from the tent

The search for Cleo has entered a sixth day with crews continuing to scour the area

The search for Cleo has entered a sixth day with crews continuing to scour the area

The family had only arrived at the campsite about 6.30pm on Friday for a weekend getaway. 

Ms Smith has been visiting the Blowholes campsite since she was a little girl and Cleo was also familiar with the area. 

Mr McGowan previously said he, like everyone, was hoping for a happy outcome and that little Cleo would be reunited with her family sooner rather than later. 

'To every officer and volunteer involved in search can I say thank you for your efforts on behalf of the Smith family,' he said. 

'To Cleo's family and on behalf of West Australians, we are thinking of you at this difficult time.' 

The four-year-old Carnarvon local has been missing for six days after she disappeared from a tent she shared with her mum, stepdad and baby sister in the dead of night on Saturday

The four-year-old Carnarvon local has been missing for six days after she disappeared from a tent she shared with her mum, stepdad and baby sister in the dead of night on Saturday 

Hopes are fast fading that Cleo will be found near the campsite as it becomes increasingly likely she was abducted

Hopes are fast fading that Cleo will be found near the campsite as it becomes increasingly likely she was abducted 

But hopes are fast fading that Cleo will be found near the campsite as it becomes increasingly likely she was abducted. 

There are concerns she 'could be anywhere' and could have travelled eight hours before police even arrived at the scene to assist with the search on Saturday morning. 

Search crews have vowed to continue scouring the campsite until they're absolutely certain she's no longer there.

'Whilst time is not on our side... there have been instances in the past where even small children lost in remote areas still being found safe and well,' acting Deputy Police Commissioner Darryl Gaunt said.

'There's been some rain that gives us hope that there's water on the ground, those type of things which, you know, we take all of these things on as a positive, and we keep searching with every bit of energy that we have.'  

Police say they do not yet have any suspects in relation to Cleo's disappearance.  

Little Cleo Smith's mother is holding out hope that the four-year-old will 'come home' to her

Little Cleo Smith's mother is holding out hope that the four-year-old will 'come home' to her

Ms Smith made a harrowing statement about 6.20am on Thursday morning - exactly six days after she discovered her eldest daughter was missing.

'I miss you. I love you. Please come home to me,' the mother-of-two said.

Early on Thursday morning, she spoke publicly to share the missing child poster that was created by strangers and distributed widely across the nation.

The poster illustrates the red and grey sleeping bag that disappeared with Cleo along with a number to call police. 

She also shared a fresh picture of Cleo enjoying a Cornetto ice-cream in a leopard print jumpsuit. Her pink scooter was visible in the background.

'My sweet girl, come home to me,' Ms Smith captioned the photo. 

Cleo's family have told detectives they will remain at the campsite, hopeful the little girl will wander back in.

Ellie Smith made a harrowing statement about 6am on Thursday morning - exactly six days after she discovered her eldest daughter was missing

Ellie Smith made a harrowing statement about 6am on Thursday morning - exactly six days after she discovered her eldest daughter was missing

All you need to know about Cleo's disappearance  

Friday 6.30pm: Cleo and her family arrive at the campsite as the sun begins to set. They quickly set up their tent and get settled in, feeding both of the girls.

Friday 8pm: Cleo went to bed while her younger sister and parents stayed up for a little while longer.

Saturday 1.30am: Cleo woke up asking for a drink of water. Ellie tended to her and checked on Isla, who was in a crib right next to Cleo's mattress in one room in the tent.

Saturday 6am: Ellie woke up to Isla wanting a bottle. She passed the divider that separated the two rooms in the tent and immediately noticed the zipper was almost entirely open. Cleo was gone.

Saturday 'mid-morning': Police and emergency services arrive to assist with the search, starting with local Carnarvon officers. 

Sunday: Cleo's mum issues a desperate plea on Facebook to find her daughter. 

Sunday/Monday: Homicide detectives, bush trackers and more volunteers are brought in to assist with the search.

Monday: Police confirm Cleo's grey and red sleeping bag also disappeared. They are yet to comment on whether there were marks that indicate it was dragged from the tent.

Police reveal they are not ruling out any possibilities relating to Cleo's disappearance. 

Tuesday morning: Search is suspended due to wild weather. 

Daily Mail Australia confirms the 'interaction' Cleo had with her mother was 'not sinister' and simply the four-year-old asking for a sip of water. 

Tuesday midday: Search continues again as storm passes.

Tuesday 1.30pm: Cleo's mum and stepdad, Jake, speak to the media for the first time since she disappeared, revealing key pieces of evidence, including:

- The tent they were staying in was left almost entirely open. Cleo and Isla were in the room nearest to the entrance, which was unzipped when Ellie woke up at 6am. Isla remained in her crib unharmed, but Cleo was gone

- Cleo is 'not the sort of child to wander off' and would have woken her parents if she needed anything, like when she woke hours earlier to ask for a sip of water

Wednesday: Police confirm reports a car was heard 'screeching off' from the campsite at about 3am. 

Assistant Commissioner Darryl Gaunt revealed there are 'between 10 and 20' known sex offenders in the Carnarvon area, but none are suspects into Cleo's disappearance following inquiries. 

'We don't have any concerns about that,' he said on 6PR Mornings.

'I know part of the investigative strategies have included reaching and making inquiries into their whereabouts and movements, and this point in time we're very comfortable where we sit with those inquiries.'  

Investigators confirm Cleo would be too short to open the tent zip by herself, stoking fears she was abducted 

Thursday 12.30pm local time (3.30pm AEST): WA Premier Mark McGowan says he has an 'important announcement' about investigation into Cleo's disappearance 

 

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Ms Smith appeared emotional during a media interview on Tuesday while Cleo's stepdad Jake Gliddon sat silently beside her.

'In the cases similar to this that I've worked on I've seen much more emotion from both parents. I think she's working hard to keep it together,' body language expert Traci Brown told Daily Mail Australia.

'I heard her voice waiver a bit and that's the only way I could tell real sadness is there. I think his stress response is to shut down so that's what we're seeing.' 

She added the couple appeared to be 'wired differently' in terms of emotional responses, pointing out Mr Gliddon gave off a 'heavy energy' despite appearing stiff and less reactive. 

'My guess is he's the strong silent type,' Ms Brown said.   

Both had their arms crossed, which was a sign the pair were facing 'stress triggers' as the pair exhibited 'self-comforting behaviour' during the interview.   

Body language experts have weighed in on the interview analysing the gestures, tone of voice and facial expressions of the couple

Body language experts have weighed in on the interview analysing the gestures, tone of voice and facial expressions of the couple 

Ms Smith has been left distraught since her four-year-old daughter Cleo (pictured) vanished from a campsite in Western Australia

Ms Smith has been left distraught since her four-year-old daughter Cleo (pictured) vanished from a campsite in Western Australia

Body language expert David Stephens from Critical Insights added people often cross their arms as a way to 'self comfort' in stressful situations.

'The question we always need to ask of course, is why are they seeking comfort - what is it that has them worried?,' he explained.

He added the gesture, tone of voice and facial expressions seen during the interview indicated truth-telling while mirroring the couple's sadness and distress. 

Ms Smith's voice faltered as she relayed the moment she unzipped the tent to discover her four-year-old was missing. 

'Her gestures and illustrators, of which there are several, broadly match what she is saying, which is a good indication that she is being truthful,' he said.  

The couple (pictured with their family) first appealed for help locating missing Cleo via social media on Sunday

The couple (pictured with their family) first appealed for help locating missing Cleo via social media on Sunday 

'The pitch of her voice,

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