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Several missing girls in Australia have been found, both alive and deceased, over the years. Cleo Smith, a four-year-old girl who went missing from a campsite, was found alive after two weeks. Savanna Harris Todd, who was abducted by her mother as a baby, was found in Australia after 19 years. Another case involves Azaria Chamberlain, whose body has never been found. More recently, a six-year-old girl, Airlie Montgomery, was found dead in Australia, and another four-year-old girl was found alive in a locked house.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Cleo Smith |
| Age | 4 years old |
| Time Missing | More than two weeks |
| Date Found | 3 November 2021 |
| Location Found | Carnarvon, Australia |
| Circumstances | Disappeared from a campsite |
| Outcome | Found alive |
| Reward | $1 million AUD |
| Arrests | 36-year-old local man |
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What You'll Learn
Cleo Smith found after two weeks
The story of Cleo Smith, a four-year-old girl who went missing from her family's tent at a campsite in Western Australia, has captured the hearts of people across the nation and beyond. After an extensive search operation spanning two weeks, Cleo was miraculously found alive, bringing immense joy and relief to her family, the community, and all those who had been following the story.
Cleo's disappearance on the night of October 16, 2021, during a family camping trip, sparked a massive search operation involving over 100 police officers and covering land, air, and sea. Despite the scale of the search, there seemed to be no trace of Cleo, and authorities feared she had been abducted. The odds of finding her alive seemed slim as each day passed.
However, on November 3, 2021, police received a tip-off and broke into a locked house in the coastal town of Carnarvon. There, they found Cleo alone in a room filled with toy dolls. The moment was captured on an officer's body camera, showing the emotional reunion as Cleo was carried out of the house and told that she would be reunited with her family.
The Western Australia Police Deputy Commissioner, Col Blanch, described the moment as a "privilege," and the rescue as a result of "good old-fashioned police work." The investigation involved sifting through hundreds of thousands of pieces of evidence, including statements from people at the campsite, CCTV footage, and phone data.
Cleo's mother, Ellie Smith, expressed her relief and joy on social media, writing, "Our family is whole again." The story of Cleo Smith's disappearance and miraculous rescue has touched people worldwide, and the successful outcome has brought a sense of relief and celebration to all those who followed the story.
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Savanna Harris Todd found after 20 years
Savanna Harris Todd, who was kidnapped by her mother, Dorothy Lee Barnett, in 1994, has been found after 20 years. Barnett, a former flight attendant, fled the country with her baby daughter during a weekend visitation, leaving few clues to their whereabouts.
Todd, who had been granted full custody of Savanna, was devastated by her disappearance. He spent years searching for his daughter, even recruiting the help of former "America's Most Wanted" host John Walsh to film a public service announcement pleading for her return. In 2014, he shared his story with Australian television, expressing his anguish and desperation during the years of separation.
The case took an unexpected turn when Todd received an email from a couple claiming to have known Lee and Savanna for over 12 years. They were living in a beach town off the coast of Australia under the names Alex and Samantha. Todd immediately alerted the FBI, and the information eventually led to Barnett's arrest.
After nearly two decades, Savanna, now an adult, learned the truth about her identity. She had been living a life that had been invented for her, unaware of the pain and loss her father had endured. Barnett, who wrote a memoir published in Australia, faced legal consequences for her actions.
The story of Savanna Harris Todd's disappearance and reunion with her father captures the complexities of loss, love, and perseverance. It demonstrates the enduring power of a father's love and the impact of a child's disappearance on a family.
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Airlie Montgomery found dead after vanishing
Six-year-old Airlie Montgomery was found dead in the Shoalhaven River, beneath a walking track in North Nowra, Australia, on Sunday, March 16, about four hours after she went missing. Airlie was last seen wearing a pink jumpsuit and no shoes around 2 p.m. local time near the Grotto Walk, a scenic area with cliff-top views, just a short distance from her home.
Airlie's disappearance sparked a large-scale search effort, with around 100 community members and two helicopters involved. Police expressed concern for her wellbeing due to her age and health, as she had medical conditions and was non-verbal. Sadly, despite the extensive search, her body was found later that day in the river beneath the walking track.
The tragic news of Airlie's death has left the town of Nowra "in mourning," according to Shoalhaven's mayor, Patricia White. Many people have taken to social media to express their sorrow and grief, with some admitting to feeling traumatized by the event. A tribute page and a fundraiser have been set up to support Airlie's family, with messages pouring in to offer condolences and reflect on the impact Airlie had on those who knew her.
New South Wales Police have confirmed that Airlie's death is being treated as accidental and not suspicious. While the specific details of the incident are still under investigation, the community is banding together to support each other and Airlie's family during this incredibly difficult time. The tragic loss of Airlie Montgomery has left an indelible mark on the town of Nowra and all those who knew and loved her.
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Azaria Chamberlain's body never found
The case of Azaria Chamberlain's disappearance has been the subject of several books, films, and television shows. Azaria was a nine-week-old infant when she disappeared on 17 August 1980 from a campsite near Ayers Rock (now Uluṟu). Her mother, Lindy Chamberlain, reported seeing a dingo leaving the tent where Azaria had been sleeping and claimed that "a dingo took her baby".
Despite extensive searches, no trace of Azaria was found at the time. Bloodstained clothing belonging to Azaria was discovered about a week later, about 4 km from the tent. The initial coronial inquest, led by magistrate Denis Barritt, ruled that the likely cause of Azaria's disappearance was a dingo attack and that her body had been disposed of by an unknown person or persons.
Lindy Chamberlain was convicted of murdering her daughter and sentenced to life imprisonment, while her husband, Michael Chamberlain, was found guilty of being an accessory and received an 18-month suspended sentence. The prosecution's key evidence included a forensic report claiming to have found foetal haemoglobin in the family's car and alleged cuts on Azaria's jumpsuit made by scissors. However, much of the forensic evidence has since been proven to be flawed or incorrect.
In 1986, Lindy Chamberlain's sentence was remitted, and she was released from prison. A royal commission conducted by Justice Trevor Morling in 1987 reported that there were serious doubts and questions as to the Chamberlains' guilt. In 1988, both convictions were quashed, and the Chamberlains were compensated with an ex gratia payment of $1.3 million.
Subsequent inquests in 2012 and 2016 also concluded that Azaria had been attacked and taken by a dingo, but her body has never been found. The case of Azaria Chamberlain remains a tragic and mysterious chapter in Australian history, giving rise to various pop culture references and becoming etched into the nation's cultural memory.
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Dorothy Lee Barnett arrested
In 1994, Dorothy Lee Barnett, a flight attendant, abducted her 10-month-old daughter, Savanna, and went on the run, sparking an international manhunt. Barnett had lost custody of her baby, and her ex-husband, Harris Todd, had full custody of the child. Barnett evaded authorities for nearly 20 years, travelling between countries and keeping her child from her father. During this time, Barnett and her daughter lived in Australia, where Barnett changed their names; she became Alexandria Canton, and her daughter became Samantha Geldenhuys. Barnett also married Juan Geldenhuys in South Africa in 1995.
Barnett was finally arrested in November 2013 in Australia, almost two decades after abducting her daughter. She was charged with child abduction and passport fraud. After her arrest, Barnett was held in custody in Australia for two years before being extradited to the U.S. and sentenced to 21 months in prison. She was released after serving four months, with credit given for time served in Australia.
The story of Dorothy Lee Barnett and her daughter, Savanna, has captured the attention of the public and the media. Barnett shared her side of the story in interviews with "48 Hours" on CBS, where she explained her motivations for abducting her daughter. Barnett's oldest friend, Susan Poag, recalled that there was always something unique about Barnett, even as a young girl. The case also raised questions about mental health and the accuracy of diagnoses, as Barnett's daughter defended her mother's actions and disputed the claims of mental illness.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Cleo Smith was found in November 2021, more than two weeks after she went missing from her family's camping tent on Australia's remote west coast.
Yes, a 36-year-old local man was arrested after the late-night raid at his house in the coastal town of Carnarvon.
Savanna Harris Todd, who was abducted by her mother, Dorothy Lee Barnett, in 1994, was found in 2013 living in Australia under the name Samantha Geldenhuys.
