The disappearance of 26-year-old German backpacker Carolina Wilga has left her family and friends frantic with worry.
With her van found abandoned in the remote Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, police are now focusing their search efforts on the surrounding area.
A Trail of Clues: Uncovering Carolina’s Last Movements
Carolina was last seen driving her black and silver Mitsubishi Delica van with license plates 1HDS330.
She had been working at mine sites in regional WA and had been backpacking in Australia for two years before her disappearance.
On the day she went missing, she sent a text to a friend at 7am saying she had “some stuff” to handle and couldn’t drop off a book and a jerry can.
“I Just Couldn’t Wait Any More”: Carolina’s Final Messages
Later that day, Carolina sent a voice message to her friend saying “I just couldn’t wait anymore. Ugh. I felt tired”.
This was followed by a visit to a petrol station in Toodyay, where she was captured on CCTV footage at 4:28pm. She left the station at 4:41pm and was later seen visiting a general store in the small town of Beacon at 12:10pm on June 29.
The Investigation So Far
Police have ruled out foul play and believe Carolina may have become lost in the vast outback of Western Australia. Her van was found 35 kilometers inland from any main tracks, in an area with large rocky outcrops and dense terrain.
Police are investigating whether Carolina took anything from her van before her disappearance and are going through the vehicle to see what was inside.
A Nationwide Search: Urgent Call for Information
The search for Carolina has been extended nationwide, and police are urging anyone with information to come forward.
A ‘Help Find Carolina Wilga’ Facebook page has been set up to aid the search, and anyone with information can call police on 131 144 or make a report via Crime Stopper on 1800 333 000.
Description of Carolina
Carolina is described as having a slim build, curly brown hair, brown eyes, and several tattoos, including a unique “symbols” tattoo on her forearm.
She was last seen wearing ripped blue baggy jeans, a cream long-sleeve jumper, and a similar colored scarf.
The Community Rallies Around
WA Premier Roger Cook has said that the finding of Carolina’s vehicle is “pleasing” but reinforced pleas to find the tourist. “Our heart goes out to everyone involved, we just want Caroline home,” he said.
The search for Carolina continues, and anyone with information is urged to come forward to help bring her home to her family and friends.