EXCLUSIVE Sinister twist in the hunt for missing German backpacker, two weeks after she vanished without trace in the remote WA outback
Caroline Wilga, 26, who has spent two years backpacking around Australia working at mine sites and farms, was last seen with the van on CCTV at a service station in Toodyay, northeast of Perth, on June 28.
She made contact with friends the next day while travelling near Beacon, in WA's remote Wheatbelt region but then vanished without a trace.
The burnt-out van, stripped of licence plates, was spotted by local man Geoff Roberts in Gnaraloo, on the Ningaloo coast, around 11 hours from Ms Wilga's last known location.
Mr Roberts raised the alarm after seeing the call for information on the Western Australia Police Force Facebook page.
'Very similar vehicle to this one burnt out between Gnaraloo 3 Mile camp and the homestead. Plates have been removed,' he posted on social media, tagging in WA Police.
Police are yet to confirm the link to the missing backpacker, but its discovery has deepened fears for Ms Wilga, who has not been seen or heard from in 12 days.
She was believed to be travelling in the black and silver 1995 Mitsubishi Delica van with WA licence plates 1HDS330 and a distinctive rooftop tent.
Police are yet to confirm the find, but the sinister claim has only deepened fears for the young woman, who has not been seen or heard from in 12 days.
Her phone has since been switched off, and investigators say all contact stopped suddenly.
Homicide detectives have now joined the case, though police say it is not officially a murder investigation 'at this point.'
'We are very concerned for her welfare,' WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch told reporters.
'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.'
The WA Police air wing has also been deployed, with land and aerial searches underway across the vast outback region.
Caroline is described as having a slim build, long frizzy dark blonde hair, brown eyes, and several tattoos, including on her left arm.
Wilga has not been seen or heard from since her last contact with friends in Beacon.
Before she was last seen, Ms Wilga would also routinely contact her family.
Police say she was believed to be travelling in a black and silver 1995 Mitsubishi Delica van with WA licence plates 1HDS330 (pictured) and a distinctive rooftop tent
They last heard from her on June 18.
The family hold concerns for her welfare due to the lack of 'regular communication'.
Her devastated mother, Katja from Castrop-Rauxel near Dortmund, appealed to the public for help in response to a post shared on social media.
'I'm her mother and need her help, as I can't do much from Germany,' she commented on a social media post.
'Carolina is still sorely missed. If anyone has any information, please contact the police. Please keep your eyes open!'
Police are urging anyone with information or dashcam footage from the Beacon area or northeast Wheatbelt between June 29 and July 4 to come forward.
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