The disappearance of 25-year-old FIFO worker Bill Carter has shaken communities in Western Australia — and left his family desperate for answers. What began as a routine drop-off at the airport on what should have been a straightforward return to work has turned into a baffling mystery.
Bill was last seen on Saturday, 6 December 2025, when his mother, Jenny O’Byrne, dropped him at Terminal 3 of Perth Airport around 12:40 pm for a flight to a mine site near Karratha. Before that, they had breakfast together in Kelmscott and took a selfie — the last confirmed photograph of him.
The flight was scheduled to depart at 2:15 pm. However, Bill never checked in, never passed security, and never boarded. His phone reportedly had activity around 1:05 pm but went completely silent from about 1:45 pm — and since then, no one has seen or heard from him.
He was carrying only a small 5-litre bag — at least that’s what his mother says. Most of his belongings reportedly remained at the mine site.
The company he worked for, Fenner Dunlop, confirmed on Monday that Bill never boarded the flight.
As hours turned into days, a formal missing-persons investigation was launched by the WA Police, who have urged anyone with information to come forward. Bill is described as approximately 174 cm tall, slim build, with brown hair and blue eyes.
What “BIZARRE” new details surfaced — and why they matter
The family says Bill had a history of anxiety and mental-health struggles — and crucially, had recently stopped his anti-anxiety medication about five months ago. His mother said he’d been behaving in ways that were “completely out of character.”
Despite being described by friends and family as quiet, gentle, and responsible, those closest to him say recent weeks were troubled — but not enough to suggest a disappearance of this magnitude.
Taken together — the abandoned bag, the turned-off phone, the lack of check-in, the mental-health concerns — the case has triggered a flurry of theories, some tragic, some chilling.
Hypotheses currently being considered
1. Mental-health crisis: runaway or accidental disappearance
Given his recent stop of anxiety medication and mental-health history, one possibility is that Bill left the airport in a distressed state — perhaps wandering off without a plan, lost or confused. Between the offered bag only, sudden silence of his phone, and the absence of any check-in or flight boarding, this is seen by many as the most plausible scenario.
Police are reportedly reviewing all exits from the airport (taxi ranks, shuttle zones, pedestrian walkways) to see if Bill left on foot or by another unspecified method.
2. Voluntary disappearance — avoiding the FIFO return
Working FIFO (fly-in, fly-out) is extremely demanding — long hours, isolation, intense physical and psychological stress. Some workers choose to abandon their shifts abruptly. The fact Bill carried only minimal luggage could suggest he intended not to return to the mine site.
However, this hypothesis conflicts with what family and friends say: Bill was not the kind to walk away without warning, and had expressed no such intention before he vanished.
3. Accident or medical emergency somewhere in or around the airport
Another concern is that Bill might have had a sudden medical or psychological episode between 12:40 and 1:45 — before boarding. If he collapsed, got disoriented, or left the terminal unnoticed (perhaps due to distress), he may be injured or otherwise incapacitated and unable to contact anyone.
Authorities have reportedly expanded search zones to surrounding roads, car parks, remote areas near the airport, and other potential paths of egress.
4. Foul play — interference by a third party
Although no concrete evidence has emerged of violence or abduction, investigators have not ruled it out. Given the lack of CCTV confirmation of his exit, and the abrupt shutdown of his phone, police say all possibilities remain under review.
The public has been urged to check dash-cam footage, CCTV outside the airport, or any suspicious activity that day.
5. Disappearance coinciding with phone shutdown — possible evidence tampering
The fact Bill’s phone turned off at exactly 1:45 pm — between his drop-off and flight time — is striking. Investigators are considering whether the phone died naturally, was lost, or intentionally disabled. If the latter, it could suggest premeditation or external interference.
Family’s plea & community reaction
Bill’s mother and partner have made emotional public appeals:
“Bill, we are begging you to come home. You are so loved,” wrote his partner, Janae Williamson.
His mother described him as vulnerable and at risk — and urged anyone who might have seen him, even briefly, to notify police or come forward.
In a statement, WA Police emphasized the urgency and scale of the search, calling on the public to check any video footage — dash-cams, CCTV, phone recordings — and to report anything unusual.
What’s next — and why every minute matters
As days pass with no confirmed sighting, grief and fear grow among Bill’s loved ones. But hope remains. Each new lead — no matter how small — could be the one to unlock the mystery.
Authorities warn that the coming 48–72 hours are critical. If Bill is lost somewhere nearby and can be located while still safe, swift action could make all the difference.
Every piece of info counts: a fleeting glimpse at the airport, a car seen speeding away, CCTV footage of someone matching his description — 174 cm, slim build, brown hair, blue eyes.
For now, the story of Bill Carter remains a haunting enigma: a young man with a future ahead, vanished in broad daylight — and the search continues.
