Cleo Smith.Photo: Western Australia Police Force/Anadolu Agency/Getty
A man plead guilty to abducting a 4-year-old girl who wentmissingfrom her family’s campsite in Australia in October.
On Monday, 36-year-old Terence Darrell Kelly admitted to the abduction ofCleo Smithduring a virtual court appearance in Carnarvon, Australia, from a maximum security prison, according to theAssociated Press,CNNandBBC.
Kelly now faces up to 20 years in prison on a conviction of"forcibly taking a child aged under 16,“according to the news outlets. The case will now be moved to the District Court of Western Australia and his next hearing is set for March.
Tamati Smith/Getty Images
The outlets also reported he has not yet entered a plea for two remaining charges including the assault of the police officer. A sentencing date has not been announced.
Cleo’s disappearance from a campsite on Oct. 16 set off an 18-day search for the toddler that grabbed headlines around the world.
At the time of her rescue in November, police said that the preschooler appeared to be “physically okay” when she was found but was taken to the hospital to confirm she had no injuries.
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“One of the officers picked her up into his arms and asked her ‘What’s your name?’ She said, ‘My name is Cleo,'” Blanch said in his statement.
Shortly after her rescue, Cleo wasreunitedwith her family.
source: people.com
