Days 5-7:

The land search for Cleo Smith starts to wind back as police increasingly believe the four-year-old was abducted.

Cleo has now been missing for 5 days, and with every passing hour, the search gets more and more desperate.

It’s becoming clear this is the most important case in the state.

And that’s when, on day 6, a 100-officer strong taskforce - named Taskforce Rodia - is launched and $1 million on offer to anyone who provides the vital information which finds the little girl.

This is also when we’re introduced to Detective Superintendent Rod Wilde - who’s experience in missing children cases, as well as his vast knowledge as a homicide detective sees the investigation into Cleo’s disappearance ramp up.

In this episode, Kristin Shorten details Det Supt Rod Wilde’s background, as well as her experience with him, working on a re-investigation into the 1997 murder of Gerard Ross.

Police Minister Paul Papalia joins the podcast to take us through the process of of a reward and why the State Government was so quick to announce one.

And Carnarvon Shire president recounts the pain felt in the community as they rallied around one of their own.

When day 7 rolls around with no sign of the little girl in the pink onesie, her parents stayed at the camp, watching every sand dune, waiting for her to come running over the hill as the land search is scaled back.

Meanwhile, the police investigation is only going to get bigger.

Join Natalie Bonjolo and Kristin Shorten as they’re joined by The West Australian reporter Sarah Steger, Police Minister Paul Papalia and Carnarvon Shire President Eddie Smith as they take you through days 5-7 of the search for Cleo Smith.

For more on Cleo Smith head to thewest.com.au and perthnow.com.au 

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