Update on the Disappearance of William Patrick “Bill” Carter: Verified Facts as of December 13, 2025
As of December 13, 2025, 25-year-old FIFO worker William Patrick Carter remains missing, with no new confirmed developments reported in major Australian media outlets. The last verified update stems from December 11-12 reports, where police revealed he was sighted at Trigg Beach after taking a taxi from Perth Airport. Western Australia Police continue to treat the case with serious concern for his welfare, citing his recent mental health struggles.
To recap the established timeline based on police statements and family interviews published in reputable sources:
On Saturday, December 6, 2025, Carter had breakfast with his mother, Jenny O’Byrne, at the Dome café in Kelmscott around 12:20 pm. They took a selfie together, which has been widely shared in appeals.
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At approximately 12:40 pm, O’Byrne dropped Carter off at the drop-off zone outside Terminal 3 (T3/T4) at Perth Airport. He was scheduled to board a 2:15 pm flight to Karratha for his FIFO shift in the Pilbara region. Carter was carrying only a small 5L backpack, as his main luggage was already at the mine site.
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Carter did not check in, scan a boarding pass, or board the flight. His employer later confirmed to his partner, Janae Williamson, that he never arrived at the work site.
Police investigations revealed that, sometime between 30 minutes and 1.5 hours after being dropped off (reports vary slightly), Carter ordered a taxi from the airport vicinity. The taxi took him to Trigg Beach in Perth’s northern suburbs, about 20-25 km away.
He was last confirmed sighted around 2:40 pm near the Trigg Surf Life Saving Club. No sightings have been verified since then.
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Carter is described as Caucasian, 174 cm tall, slim build, with brown hair and blue eyes. He was wearing a black t-shirt, shorts, and white sneakers at the time of disappearance.
Family members, including O’Byrne, have expressed grave concerns due to Carter’s reported mental health issues. He had recently discontinued anti-anxiety medication and was described as vulnerable. O’Byrne told PerthNow that the disappearance is “completely out of character” for her “quiet, affable” son. His phone was last active around 1:05-1:45 pm on December 6 before going offline.
No evidence of foul play has been reported. Police have appealed for public assistance, urging anyone with information—particularly dashcam footage from the airport or Trigg area, or sightings—to contact them on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers anonymously.
Regarding the specific claims in recent online headlines suggesting “bombshell” revelations—such as 11 separate locations searched in the first 24 hours, no confirmed exit from the airport, or analysts believing Carter left a “search radius within minutes”—extensive searches across news sites (including PerthNow, 9News, 7News, Daily Mail Australia, and Yahoo News) as of December 13, 2025, yield no matching verified reports from police, family, or credible journalists. The most recent articles (dated December 11-12) reiterate the Trigg Beach sighting and ongoing “desperate” search but contain no mention of these details.
It is common in missing persons cases for unverified rumors or speculative social media posts to circulate, especially on platforms like Facebook or Reddit, where discussions about Carter’s case have been active. However, only information corroborated by police statements or direct family quotes in established media has been included here.
The case highlights broader discussions around mental health support for FIFO workers, with public commentary noting the isolating nature of the industry. Carter, originally from Bunbury, attended Bunbury Cathedral Grammar School, studied at Murdoch University, and had recently returned from a family trip to Zambia.
Western Australia Police maintain an active investigation. Support resources for those affected include Lifeline (13 11 14) and MensLine Australia (1300 78 99 78).
This summary is based solely on reports from PerthNow (December 9 and 11, 2025), 9News (December 9-10), Daily Mail Australia (December 9), Yahoo News Australia (December 11), and related police appeals. No new breakthroughs have been announced as of today.
