Home

Cleo Smith search: Hayley Dodd’s mum, Margaret, tells missing girl’s family to ‘stay strong’

Joey CatanzaroThe West Australian
The mother of slain teen Hayley Dodd says she hopes police use the lessons learnt searching for her daughter to find Cleo Smith.
Camera IconThe mother of slain teen Hayley Dodd says she hopes police use the lessons learnt searching for her daughter to find Cleo Smith.

The mother of slain teen Hayley Dodd says she hopes police use the lessons learnt searching for her daughter to find Cleo Smith.

Margaret Dodd, whose daughter was abducted and killed by Francis John Wark in 1999, told 7NEWS she could “feel the pain” experienced by Cleo’s mother Ellie and stepfather Jake Gliddon as the days stretch on since the four-year-old was last seen.

Hayley Dodd.
Camera IconHayley Dodd. Credit: Unknown/Supplied

Mrs Dodd said she was heartened at the speed of the police operation to try to find Cleo, in comparison to what she believes was a sluggish response to Hayley’s disappearance.

Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE

Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.

READ NOW

“Everything has been thrown at looking for this little girl and that really makes me very happy,” she said.

Mrs Dodd said Cleo’s suspected abduction brought back painful memories of the nightmarish days after her own girl’s disappearance.

“It just brings it all back because you know what you've gone through and you're hoping that your little one will be found alive,” she said.

Mrs Dodd implored the couple to “stay strong”.

“There is hope. Just keep in there and hold it all together until your little girl comes home,” she said.

Get the latest news from thewest.com.au in your inbox.

Sign up for our emails