Man Admits Kidnapping Four-Year-Old Girl from Remote Campsite
Terence Kelly Pleads Guilty to Child Abduction
Terence Darrell Kelly, 36, has admitted to forcibly taking a four-year-old girl from a tent at the isolated Blowholes campsite last year. He pleaded guilty via videolink during a court hearing on Monday.
Case Adjourned, Other Charges Pending
The case is now set to continue at Perth District Court on 20 March. Kelly is also facing additional charges, including assaulting a public officer, which remain unresolved. He is currently held in custody.
Girl Found Safe After 18 Days Missing
The little girl, named Cleo, was found safe and unharmed in early November after disappearing from the campsite. Police located her alone, playing with toys, inside a nearby home just minutes from her home in Carnarvon, almost 1,000km north of Perth.
Kelly was arrested on a street nearby around the same time. Officers have confirmed he acted alone and has no connection to Cleo’s family.
High Security Measures for Kelly
Following his first court appearance, Kelly was transported under heavy security—including armed riot squad guards—on a charter flight from Carnarvon to Perth. This was after Kelly was twice hospitalised for self-inflicted injuries while in custody.
