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Carolina Wilga: Homicide detectives investigating disappearance of missing German backpacker in the Wheatbelt

The 26-year-old German backpacker was last captured on CCTV on June 29 before vanishing in the Wheatbelt.
Caleb RuncimanBy Caleb Runciman
Police Commissioner Col Blanch on Wednesday said she was also captured on CCTV the following day in Beacon. 

Carolina Wilga: Homicide detectives investigating disappearance of missing German backpacker in the Wheatbelt

The 26-year-old German backpacker was last captured on CCTV on June 29 before vanishing in the Wheatbelt.
Caleb RuncimanBy Caleb Runciman

Homicide detectives are now involved in the widespread search for a young German backpacker who vanished in the Wheatbelt.

Carolina Wilga was last seen at a convenience store on Stirling Terrace, near the intersection of Goomalling-Toodyay Road, in Toodyay, on June 28.

Police Commissioner Col Blanch said on Wednesday that the 26-year-old was also captured on CCTV the following day in Beacon.

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“(Homicide detectives) went (to the Wheatbelt) yesterday or they’re going today,” he said.

Police Commissioner Col Blanch on Wednesday said she was also captured on CCTV the following day in Beacon.  Credit: WA Police

“They are investigating, not that it’s a homicide at this point, but we want our very best capabilities to investigate something that is very concerning to us.”

A police spokesman said investigators were seeking footage around Beacon, about 330km north east of Perth, and the surrounding north-eastern Wheatbelt areas between June 29 and July 4 following her disappearance.

Police believe her phone has been switched off, with her last known contact with others made to friends.

The young backpacker has been travelling throughout Australia for two years and had been mostly staying in hostels. It is understood she has been working on mine sites, which has funded her travels.

Mr Blanch said none of her belongings had been recovered on Wednesday morning.

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The police air wing has been searching bushland in the areas where she was last seen.

Ms Wilga’s family are understood to be travelling to WA after the young woman ceased contact with them.

Carolina Wilga, 26, was last seen at a convenience store on Stirling Street, near the intersection of Goomalling-Toodyay Road in Toodyay on June 28. Credit: WA Police

Ms Wilga, a German national, is known to have been travelling in a distinctive black and silver 1995 Mitsubishi van, with the WA registration 1HDS 330.

The van has been previously sighted with a rooftop tent.

She is described as being of slim build, with frizzy or curly long dark blonde hair and brown eyes.

She also has several tattoos, including one her left arms depicting different symbols.

A police spokesman said the search remained ongoing, with police utilising “significant land and air resources” to help find her.

Dash-cam, CCTV or mobile phone footage can be sent to police directly here.

Anyone with any information in relation to the whereabouts of Carolina Wilga is urged to contact police immediately on 131 444.

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