The Disappearance of William Patrick Carter: A Verified Account of the Ongoing Search
On December 6, 2025, 25-year-old William Patrick Carter, commonly known as Bill, vanished under mysterious circumstances in Perth, Western Australia. Carter, a fly-in fly-out (FIFO) worker employed at a mine site in the Pilbara region, was scheduled to return to work after a holiday. His disappearance has sparked a widespread police investigation and public appeals, with serious concerns raised about his welfare due to reported mental health challenges.
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The timeline begins on the morning of December 6. Carter had breakfast with his mother, Jenny O’Byrne, a nurse based in Bunbury, at the Dome cafĂ© in Kelmscott. They took a selfie together around 12:20 pm, which O’Byrne later shared publicly to aid the search. This photo, requested by Carter’s sister, captures the pair smiling and has become a key image in media reports and police appeals.
Shortly after, at approximately 12:40 pm, O’Byrne dropped her son off outside Terminal 3 at Perth Airport. Carter was due to board a 2:15 pm flight to Karratha to resume his FIFO shift. He was carrying only a small 5L backpack, as most of his belongings were already at the mine site—a common practice for FIFO workers on regular rotations.
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Carter was described as Caucasian, approximately 174 cm tall, of slim build, with brown hair and blue eyes. At the time, he was wearing a black t-shirt, shorts, and white sneakers.
However, Carter never checked in or boarded the flight. His employer confirmed to his partner, Janae Williamson, that he did not arrive at the mine site. Initial reports focused on his presence at the airport drop-off zone, confirmed by his mother, but no immediate sightings inside the terminal were reported.
As the search progressed, Western Australia Police revealed crucial updates. About 30 minutes to 90 minutes after being dropped off (reports vary slightly on the exact timing), Carter ordered a taxi from the airport. The destination was Trigg Beach, located in Perth’s northern suburbs, approximately 20-25 km from the airport.
He was last sighted around 2:40 pm near the Trigg Surf Life Saving Club. This sighting places him at the beach, but there have been no confirmed reports of his whereabouts since then.
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By December 12, 2025, the search had entered its sixth day, described by police as “desperate.” As of the latest reports from December 12, Carter remains missing, with no new breakthroughs announced.
Family statements have highlighted concerns for his mental health. O’Byrne has publicly stated that her son had been struggling and had recently discontinued anti-anxiety medication. She described the disappearance as “completely out of character,” noting that Carter is a “quiet, affable chap” who is widely loved but reserved. In interviews with PerthNow, she emphasized, “He’s not well, and he’s very vulnerable and at risk.” O’Byrne, along with Carter’s partner and other relatives, has urged the public to come forward with any information.
Carter’s background adds context to his life as a FIFO worker. Originally from Bunbury in southwest Western Australia, he attended Bunbury Cathedral Grammar School and later studied at Murdoch University before entering the mining industry. He had recently returned from a family holiday in Zambia, visiting his father, alongside his sister. FIFO lifestyles—characterized by extended periods away from home, often on 12-days-on, 9-days-off rosters—have been noted in public discussions (including Reddit threads in r/perth) as potentially exacerbating mental health issues for some workers. Commenters have linked Carter’s case to other recent missing FIFO workers, calling for greater awareness of men’s mental health in the industry.
Police have not released details on CCTV footage from the airport or beach, though one Reddit discussion speculated about airport surveillance potentially clarifying movements inside the terminal. No evidence of foul play has been reported; the focus remains on welfare concerns, particularly given the beach location and Carter’s reported vulnerabilities.
Western Australia Police continue to appeal for information. Anyone with details on Carter’s whereabouts is urged to contact police immediately on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers. Support resources mentioned in reports include Lifeline (13 11 14) and SANE Australia (1800 18 7263).
As of December 13, 2025, the case remains active and unresolved. The combination of a confirmed airport drop-off, a taxi journey to a coastal area, and subsequent silence has left investigators and family in a “chilling blank” phase, as initial descriptions noted. The search underscores the challenges of missing persons cases in vast, coastal regions like Perth, where beaches often feature in such incidents.
This account is compiled from verified reports published by reputable Australian outlets including PerthNow (December 9-12, 2025 articles), 9News (December 9-10), Daily Mail Australia (December 9), and Yahoo News Australia (December 11), as well as public appeals and police statements referenced therein. No unverified rumors or speculative details have been included.
