Cleo Smith's step dad returns to WA family home for the first time since ...

Cleo Smith's step dad returns to WA family home for the first time since ...
Cleo Smith's step dad returns to WA family home for the first time since ...

Cleo Smith's heartbroken stepfather has returned to the family's home for the first time since his little girl vanished during a camping trip 11 days ago to allow police to scour the inside.

The four-year-old girl's teary-eyed mother Ellie told a TV interview on Monday that the couple had hardly been back to the house, finding it too agonising to return without their daughter.

Cleo went to sleep in a tent at Blowholes campsite, near Carnarvon in Western Australia, alongside her parents and baby sister, but was gone by morning.

Detectives and forensic crews were reportedly inside the house in Carnarvon on Tuesday afternoon for seven hours, desperately searching for anything which could help make sense of how the four-year-old disappeared.

Jake Gliddon, who is not considered a suspect by police, led investigators through the front door and spoke with detectives inside for several minutes before they all left in separate cars and forensic officers descended on the home.

About 6.30pm cops emerged with two evidence bags but it has not yet been revealed what was inside, the West Australian reported. 

Little Cleo Smith and her step father Jake Gliddon are pictured together

Little Cleo Smith and her step father Jake Gliddon are pictured together

Mr Gliddon is seen walking his step daughter carrying a pink backpack to pre-school

Mr Gliddon is seen walking his step daughter carrying a pink backpack to pre-school 

Prime Minister Scott Morrison the same day assured the family that everything is being done to find Cleo, including the use of 'secret technology'.

Although investigators had been to the home before, this was the first time they thoroughly searched inside with a forensics team. 

On the previous occasion forensic officers combed the outside looking for signs of a stalker along the fence line and windows but 'no evidence' was uncovered and the theory discounted. 

The little girl in pink pyjamas was sleeping in a tent alongside her mother Ellie, stepfather and baby sister Isla on their first camping trip together. 

But when her parents awoke at 6am on October 16, she was gone along with her sleeping bag, which has also not been found.

Police initially believed Cleo had simply wandered off at the remote campsite, but investigators are now convinced she was snatched in the dead of night by a child predator.

A massive land, sea and air search has continued for almost two weeks but there is still no signs of the pre-schooler and detectives have no firm suspects.

To flush out information the WA government last week announced a $1million reward for any information that can lead to Cleo's whereabouts.

The heartbroken step father of Cleo Smith (pictured in a green singlet and sunglasses) has returned to the family's home for the first time since his little girl vanished from Blowholes campsite in Western Australia 11 days ago

The heartbroken step father of Cleo Smith (pictured in a green singlet and sunglasses) has returned to the family's home for the first time since his little girl vanished from Blowholes campsite in Western Australia 11 days ago

Jake Gliddon (pictured) is not considered a suspect by police in Cleo's disappearance

Jake Gliddon (pictured) is not considered a suspect by police in Cleo's disappearance

Mr Gliddon (pictured with police) led investigators through the front door and spoke with detectives inside for several minutes

Mr Gliddon (pictured with police) led investigators through the front door and spoke with detectives inside for several minutes

The Prime Minister told 6PR radio on Tuesday that the case has captured the 'hearts and minds' of everybody in the country.

He also said that everything is being done to locate the missing child including the use of top secret technology.

'It certainly has captured our minds here - our hearts just go out to them,' Mr Morrison said.

'But in terms of technology and tradecraft, the Australian Federal Police have some very advanced capabilities, leading edge, not just here in Australia but all around the world.

'As much as I'd love to reveal exactly what some of those are, and how they're being used, we certainly can't talk about that on air.

'I just hope we can find Cleo, I just really do. I just think the whole nation is just waiting and hoping and praying - we certainly are.' 

Detectives are now looking into footage taken from a home on the North West Coastal Highway, near the Blowholes campsite, which reportedly shows a sedan travelling down the road at about 3am

Detectives are now looking into footage taken from a home on the North West Coastal Highway, near the Blowholes campsite, which reportedly shows a sedan travelling down the road at about 3am

Forensic investigations (pictured) descended on the home at about 2.30pm on Tuesday

Forensic investigations (pictured) descended on the home at about 2.30pm on Tuesday

A police vehicle is pulled up outside the family's home as investigators look for evidence inside

A police vehicle is pulled up outside the family's home as investigators look for evidence inside

Immense scrutiny has followed Ms Smith and her partner Mr Gliddon since their nightmare ordeal began, with hoards of online sleuths and 'amateur detectives' pointing the finger at them.

The devastated couple vehemently on Monday night denied any involvement in Cleo's disappearance and made a heartfelt plea to bring her home.

Ms Smith urged anyone with information on the missing toddler to call police because 'we want our daughter back and she wants us'.

Wiping away tears, she also had a message for Cleo's abductor: 'Just give her back to us,' she said on Channel Seven's Flashpoint program.

Queensland body language expert Allan Pease, said the couple were telling the truth and showed very 'raw emotion' and seemed heavily reliant on each other to answer questions.

'There was nothing contradictory or deceitful or collusive about them - I see them as trying to emotionally support each other,' he told The West Australian.

'Ellie is constantly deferring to him (Jake) to make sure that what she's saying is OK,' he said. 

'When she was answering questions the reporter asked, she'd give the answer but she'd look at Jake, she didn't actually answer to the reporter.'

Ellie Smith posted a 20-second TikTok montage of the smiling blonde-haired girl (pictured playing a xylophone) along with missing persons posters reminding Australians of the $1milliion reward for information that can lead to her whereabouts

Ellie Smith posted a 20-second TikTok montage of the smiling blonde-haired girl (pictured playing a xylophone) along with missing persons posters reminding Australians of the $1milliion reward for information that can lead to her whereabouts

Cleo was sleeping in a tent alongside her mother Ellie, stepfather and baby sister Isla on their first camping trip together. But when her parents awoke at 6am on October 16, she was gone along with her sleeping bag

Cleo was sleeping in a tent alongside her mother Ellie, stepfather and baby sister Isla on their first camping trip together. But when her parents awoke at 6am on October 16, she was gone along with her sleeping bag

A $1million reward is now on offer for anyone who has information into the disappearance of missing Cleo

Police fear she may have been abducted

A $1million reward is now on offer for anyone who has information into the disappearance of missing Cleo with fears she may have been abducted

He said it was most likely because she was intimidated about being on camera and not because she was being untruthful.

'I mean

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