News
Man charged with stealing Cleo Smith bought toy dolls in the years leading up to abduction
The 36 year-old Western Australian man charged over the abduction of four-year-old Cleo Smith has an infatuation for dolls
Terence Darrell Kelly, has been charged with multiple offences including child stealing.
He faced Carnarvon Magistrate’s Court on Thursday and did not apply for bail and was not required to enter a plea.
Social media of alleged abductor
Kelly collects bratz dolls and is pictured on his social media wearing a shirt with the toy brand on it.
There’s also pictures on his Facebook of an entire doll collection and selfies commenting on brushing the Bratz dolls hair.
One post from last year saying “I love taking my dolls for drive arounds”
A lot of dolls are still in their original packaging. It appears to be an impressive collection, not limited to Bratz dolls – with Disney princesses and other little girls toys part of it all too.
It has been reported he bought toy dolls in the years leading up to the alleged kidnapping.
Kelly’s identity was revealed late on Wednesday afternoon after he was taken to hospital twice as he reportedly harmed himself in a police cell.
Why does he collect dolls?
Cleo found playing with toys
The detective leading the investigation into the alleged abduction revealed officers said they found Cleo playing with toys in one of the rooms.
Police have visited stores in the town’s main shopping street.
They asked business owners to hand over CCTV footage over the last two-and-a-half weeks.
The Australian have reported he bought dolls from Carnarvon Toyworld within the last three weeks with staff assisting detectives by scouring through archived security footage.
“He was in here three or four times a year buying girls’ toys, Disney princesses and others things like that,” a worker told the publication.
The man was known to police
Police still needed to establish what happened during the 18 days she was missing, describing it as a “traumatic event”
Kelly will face court again on December 6th.
Police have confirmed he was well known to Police and a familiar face in the community.
“It was literally a needle in a data haystack,” Detective Superintendent Rod Wilde said.
Reports alleged abductor was following Cleo’s mum on Facebook, according to a nine 6pm report.
Detective Superintendent Rod Wilde is calling on people to refrain from sharing their opinions of the case online.
“Everyone please keep those theories to yourself and don’t go sticking them on social media — it’s very unhelpful.”
A team of 140 detectives, officers and analysts have been working tirelessly for more than two weeks since her alleged kidnapping from the family’s tent in the early hours of October 16.
Police have previously said this investigation is just at the tip of the iceberg and there are more details to emerge.
“The information acted on from last night (Monday) onwards starts out really small and quickly snowballs,”Detective Superintendent Rod Wilde said.
“There were car movements, and there were phone movements. The jigsaw fit the puzzle.”
Cleo has been pictured in the arms of her mother for the first time.
Officers who specialise in interviewing children have been brought in to assist the investigation as the the rest of the world watches on, relieved that she is safely home.
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Suspect fights extradition in UnitedHealth executive murder case
Luigi Mangione, accused of murdering UnitedHealth CEO, contests extradition to NY. Denied bail; linked to shooting with ghost gun.
A 26-year-old man, Luigi Mangione, is fighting extradition to New York to face murder charges for the shooting of UnitedHealth executive Brian Thompson.
Mangione was arrested in Pennsylvania after a five-day manhunt and denied bail for the second time.
During a court appearance, he made a statement directed at reporters, though its meaning was unclear.
Legal experts believe Mangione’s fight against extradition could prolong the process, but success is unlikely.
Authorities are investigating whether he acted alone or had assistance leading up to the shooting.
Mangione was recognized at a McDonald’s by an employee and was found with a firearm, clothing, and fake IDs matching the shooter’s description.
Weapon possession
He has been charged with gun and forgery offenses in Pennsylvania, in addition to murder and weapon possession charges in New York.
Investigators are still determining the motive behind Thompson’s targeted killing. It was revealed that Mangione had chronic back pain and previously worked as a data engineer.
His family expressed shock and devastation over his arrest and offered condolences to Thompson’s family.
Thompson, a father of two, had been the CEO of UnitedHealth’s insurance unit since 2021 and was in New York for a company event. The incident has heightened frustrations concerning healthcare access and insurance issues in the U.S.
News
Murdoch loses trust control bid for son Lachlan
Rupert Murdoch’s attempt to alter family trust for Lachlan’s control denied by Nevada commissioner, citing bad faith.
Rupert Murdoch’s attempt to change the family trust to consolidate control under his son Lachlan has been rejected by a Nevada commissioner.
The ruling, made by Commissioner Edmund J. Gorman Jr., stated that Murdoch and Lachlan acted in “bad faith” while trying to amend the irrevocable trust, which divides control equally among Murdoch’s four oldest children.
The 96-page opinion characterised the plan as a “carefully crafted charade” intended to secure Lachlan’s executive roles unconditionally.
Murdoch’s lawyer expressed disappointment and plans to appeal the ruling.
FILE PHOTO: Media mogul Rupert Murdoch poses for a photograph with his sons Lachlan and James in London.
Media empire
This dispute is critical as it affects the future control of Murdoch’s media empire, which includes Fox News and other major outlets.
While the intention was not to diminish financial stakes, the ruling reflects deep family tensions, especially given differing political views among the siblings.
The commissioner noted Lachlan initiated the proposed changes, created a plan dubbed “Project Family Harmony,” and labeled James as a “troublesome beneficiary.”
Despite Lachlan and Rupert’s efforts, the attempt to marginalise James was deemed insufficiently justified by the court.
Murdoch’s family trust, established in 2006, retains his control until his death, and includes provisions allowing amendments.
However, the commissioner found that Murdoch and Lachlan’s actions were not supporting their siblings’ best interests.
The ruling is not final and may be contested further in court.
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