Carolina Wilga, a 26-year-old backpacker, has spent the past two years travelling throughout Australia, recently working in regional Western Australia’s mining sector to support her hostel stays. She was last sighted in Beacon, located around 300 kilometres north-east of Perth, on June 29.
On that day, police released footage showing Carolina arriving at a general store in Beacon at approximately 12:10 PM in her distinctive black and silver Mitsubishi Delica van. Dressed in blue jeans and a grey jumper, she was observed exploring the store grounds for about five minutes before leaving. The previous day, she had also stopped at a petrol station in Toodyay around 4:30 PM, then proceeded to travel to Dowerin before reaching Beacon.
The police are soliciting help from the public, hoping someone may recall seeing Carolina or her vehicle. Homicide Squad Detective Senior Sergeant Katharine Venn expressed concern for Carolina’s family overseas, indicating distress over her unexplained disappearance. Venn noted that alerts regarding Carolina’s vehicle have been issued across all states and territories, as friends have indicated she may have intended to travel further, potentially to regional WA and the east coast.
Search efforts include aerial reconnaissance using planes and helicopters, as the Wheatbelt’s rocky terrain poses challenges. Investigators are pursuing leads in various locations across the state, including Esperance, Albany, and Margaret River. Venn acknowledged the possibility that Carolina might be off-grid, potentially without access to her phone, and equipped to be self-sufficient due to the capacity of her vehicle.
Despite the involvement of the homicide squad, this case remains classified as a missing persons investigation, with no evidence pointing to foul play thus far. Venn reiterated the importance of any information that could assist in locating Carolina, underscoring that the investigation remains open to all inquiries.
Carolina is described as having a slim build, long wavy brown hair, brown eyes, and several tattoos, including significant symbols on her left forearm. Her vehicle, a 1995 Mitsubishi Delica with Western Australian registration 1HDS 330, features a distinctive rooftop tent. Authorities are appealing for anyone who might have relevant information or footage from the Beacon area between June 29 and July 4 to reach out to Crime Stoppers, reinforcing the hope that someone has crucial details to aid in bringing Carolina home.