Cleo Smith search: Daniel Morcombe’s family tell missing Carnarvon girl’s parents to have ‘hope’

The parents of murdered schoolboy Daniel Morcombe have used the country’s biggest national child safety awareness day, an event dedicated to the memory of their child, to urge Cleo Smith’s family to “trust the process” and have “hope”.

It is almost two weeks since Cleo was taken from her family’s tent in a suspected abduction at Blowholes near Carnarvon.

Daniel, 13, was abducted while waiting for a bus on the Sunshine Coast in 2003. His remains were found eight years later in bushland.

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Speaking on the Day for Daniel, Australia’s largest child safety and education awareness event, Daniel’s parents implored Cleo’s mother Ellie Smith and stepfather Jake Gliddon to remain positive.

“No doubt the police, the investigation team, the strategies involved and of course the SES, and finally the media – everyone is willing for a positive result in this case,” father Bruce Morcombe said, standing wife Denise.

“And all here – even in Queensland on the other side of Australia, the whole of Australia is willing a really remarkable result and we all hope and pray that that’s not too far away.”

Their message of support comes as a Smith family friend, who asked to remain anonymous, told The West Australian the online comments abusing Mr Gliddon are an “utter disgrace.”

Police have been at pains to stress the pair have been nothing but helpful to detectives, however that hasn’t stopped them being targeted by online trolls.

“Most of the Facebook comments are being made by parents themselves and I think that’s disgusting,” the friend said.

“Just imagine if it happened to them and they had to read all these horrible comments during undoubtedly the hardest time of their lives.

“The police have cleared Jake and Ellie from being suspects. I have known them for years and I can tell you they are the best people I know and my heart aches for them,” he said.