Got to say after listening to some of the analysis from forensic and criminology experts. The brilliant outcome of Cleo Smith being found alive and outwardly unscathed was extremely unlikely. Just astounding. Which makes it all the more relieving. In the case of a child being abducted by a stranger, they suggested the likelihood of them being discovered alive beyond a few hours is relatively low, much less days or weeks. In fact one forensic expert suggested she does not actually know of a case as such.
Mind you, one enormous mystery is solved, but the peculiarities around the event and the alleged abductor just adds another level of befuddlement to it.
Reading between the lines of the comments from forensic experts I outline above. In the rare event that children are abducted by strangers, generally it's predators who have inherent, sexual urges as their motivation. Paedo, child rapist murderers, such as Brett Cowan, who abducted Daniel Morcombe as an example. Hence why in these instances, the most likely outcome is the worst.
I could be wrong, but there seems on the face of it, to be no strong suggestion this alleged offender fits that profile. It has been eluded to that he is known to police, but not for anything serious like crimes of that nature. Perhaps just petty thieving or something of that nature.
Given the information filtering out, that he had an obsession with girl's toys and fake social media profiles falsely claiming to have children. The fact he is considered a strange loner, estranged from his large extended family. I just wonder if he is a bit of an oddball with psychological problems. Perhaps living in his own childlike fantasy world. Wanted a child playmate. Or deluded himself into thinking he could live out the fantasy world of having children (that he created in social media) by simply stealing one. Apparently when found, Cleo was clean, with clean brushed hair, fresh, clean PJs on. Wasn't malnourished or dehydrated.
WA Police have also suggested earlier in the piece that they don't believe the crime was planned (such as a stalking scenario). Simply opportunistic. Wondering whether maybe he was hanging around campsites burgling tents (might explain why he might be so good at opening tents undetected) and came across little Cleo and her sister sleeping. With all the other psychological delusions he has going on, he steals a child.
One would hope for Cleo's sake, this is the worst that it was.