Car found in search for missing German backpacker

6 hours ago 2

Police have found the car of a missing German backpacker in the Wheatbelt.

Carolina Wilga went missing 12 days ago, after she was last seen in the Beacon area about 330 kilometres outside of Perth.

Police said they located the Mitsubishi Delica car abandoned at 1pm on Thursday, but they have still not found the missing 26-year-old.

“The vehicle was located abandoned in the Karroun Hill area, in the north-east Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, and is believed to have suffered mechanical issues,” a spokesperson said.

“Carolina Wilga was not at the scene.

“The search to locate her is continuing, with additional resources being deployed to the area.”

The 26-year-old was last seen on CCTV captured by a general store in the town at 12.10pm on June 29, which showed her pull her 1995 Mitsubishi Delica van in front of the closed shop.

She appeared to walk over to a garden bed, then drove away.

She has not been seen or heard from since, and concerns are held for her welfare.

Detective Senior Sergeant Katharine Venn spoke to media earlier on Thursday, and said police were tracking her movements in the days before her disappearance.

“On the day prior Carolina travelled through Toodyay then Dowerin, which are Wheatbelt towns,” she said.

“Today, we’re going to release footage of her in both of those locations to you, and we hope that this will cause a member of the public to recognise Carolina as somebody they’ve seen.

“This is a missing person’s investigation; there is no indication that there’s any third-party involvement in her disappearance, but our minds are open to any line of inquiry.”

Wilga has a slim build, frizzy or curly long dark blonde hair, brown eyes and several tattoos.

She has been backpacking and staying at motels, which police say she often funded through her work on mine sites.

Beacon is on the edge of the Wheatbelt region, and is known for its wildflowers and granite outcrops.

It has a population of 123 residents, and acts as a service centre for surrounding agricultural businesses.

Wilga previously posted on Perth job boards advertising her experience working on farms.

Wilga posted to job boards, saying she had experience in farming, hospitality and housekeeping.

Venn said police were following up tips in Albany, Esperance and Margaret River.

“This is unexplained behaviour,” she said.

Her mother posted to social media about her daughter’s disappearance, which has also been covered by German media.

“I’m her mother and need her [sic] help, as I can’t do much from Germany,” she wrote.

“Carolina is still sorely missed.

“If anyone has any information, please contact the police … please keep your eyes open!”

A man claiming to be Wilga’s brother also posted to social media asking West Australians to contact police if they had any information.

German federal police have been contacted for comment.

Police have asked anyone who saw anything between June 29, 2025 and July 4, 2025 to contact Crime Stoppers.

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