For 18 days there was no trace of the missing Cleo from Australia, and charges have now been brought against a 36-year-old man.
A video shows the man's strange preference for dolls.
Perth - It is every parent's nightmare: their own child disappears on vacation, investigators assume the child will be dead for days.
Exactly this nightmare ended well for the parents of little Cleo from Australia, the four-year-old was discovered alive around 18 days after her disappearance.
Charges have now been brought against a 36-year-old man; neighbors had given the decisive tip.
Meanwhile, a video is said to reveal a strange predilection of the man.
Missing Cleo back again: charges brought against man (36) - video shows him with a strange love for dolls
As the Australian broadcaster
ABC reported
on Thursday, citing the judiciary, charges have now been brought against the alleged kidnapper of little Cleo Smith.
The 36-year-old is accused of "child theft" because he allegedly brought a child under 16 into his power.
As the portal further reports, the man barely showed any emotion when bringing the charges.
When asked whether he understood the allegations, the man is said to have merely nodded.
The 36-year-old did not request a release on bail.
Missing Cleo from Australia: Neighbors noticed strange behavior on suspect
As reported by the dpa, citing the Australian media, the man is said to have had an obsession with dolls in the past.
Accordingly, the now suspect is said to have also collected many dolls.
A video circulating on social networks is said to show the man how he filmed himself in a room full of dolls.
Neighbors had described the now accused to the Australian portal
WAtoday
as a loner, but recently he had behaved suspiciously.
The man was observed by neighbors buying diapers, and crying was said to have been heard from inside the house at night.
The kidnapping of little Cleo had kept all of Australia in suspense for 18 days, the four-year-old had disappeared from the tent while camping with her family.
The day after the little girl was discovered in the locked house, the media published a moving video.
