A leaked CCTV clip has sent shockwaves across the country after revealing the final moments 14-year-old Kacey-Rae Thompson was seen before disappearing with an unidentified man late Tuesday night.
The footage, recorded at a suburban train station, is now at the centre of an escalating police investigation — and experts say the man’s “sneaky and deliberate” movement at the 23-second mark could be the key to understanding what happened to the missing girl.
A Disappearance That Unfolded in Seconds
Kacey-Rae was captured on camera walking beside a tall, hooded man at approximately 9:42 p.m. The pair moved through the station’s west corridor, where only a handful of passengers were present.
But it was a single moment — less than half a second — that has drawn the attention of investigators.
The Suspicious Action at Second 23
At precisely the 23-second timestamp, the man accompanying Kacey-Rae can be seen:
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glancing sharply over his shoulder,
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shifting his body to block the girl from the view of a passing commuter, and
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sliding his left hand into his jacket in a movement detectives call “highly unusual and evasive.”
A police source described the gesture as “something no ordinary guardian or acquaintance would do.”
Investigators: “He was checking for surveillance.”
Analysts who reviewed the clip frame-by-frame believe the man may have been checking whether the two were being monitored — behaviour consistent with someone attempting to move a child without drawing attention.
One senior investigator told reporters:
“The man appears to conceal the girl exactly when another individual passes behind them. That is deliberate. That is calculated.”
The Girl’s Body Language Raises Alarm
While the man remained composed, Kacey-Rae’s posture changed noticeably in the moments after the suspicious movement:
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her steps slowed,
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her shoulders tightened,
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and she briefly looked toward the exit before the man nudged her forward.
Police say this could indicate hesitation or distress.
Where They Went Next
Within just 40 seconds of the clip, the pair exited the station through a side gate normally used by staff.
The man appeared familiar with the layout, heading directly toward an unlit service road.
The two were not seen again.
Family “Destroyed” by the New Revelation
Kacey-Rae’s mother, after being shown the footage in private, was said to be “inconsolable.”
Relatives told reporters the family had initially believed she left with someone she knew — but the CCTV has drastically changed their view.
A cousin said:
“Seeing that 23rd second… it makes your stomach drop. She looks scared. He looks like he knows exactly what he’s doing.”
Police Search Intensifies
Authorities have widened the search perimeter, calling in digital-forensics teams to enhance the footage and isolate the man’s face, gait, and clothing patterns.
Officers are also checking for:
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other cameras along the service road,
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vehicles parked within a 500-metre radius, and
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witnesses who may have seen the man’s suspicious behaviour.
Public Warning Issued
Police have urged the public not to approach the man if seen, describing him as “strategic, alert, and possibly dangerous.”
Investigators will release additional footage once analysis is complete.
