As Christmas approaches and families across Australia prepare for reunions, Jenny O’Byrne remains trapped in limbo—waiting for her son William “Bill” Carter to walk through the door. The 25-year-old FIFO worker vanished on December 6, 2025, after his mother dropped him at Perth Airport for a flight he never boarded. Now, Western Australia Police’s latest update—that the search remains “ongoing” with no new leads—has left O’Byrne in tears, amplifying fears that the careful wording signals a shift from hope to grim reality.

O’Byrne, a dedicated nurse from Bunbury, shared a final smiling selfie with her son after brunch that Saturday morning. She dropped him outside Terminal 3 around 12:40 p.m., watching him head toward check-in with a small backpack, dressed in a black t-shirt, shorts, and white sneakers. “He was happy, we had a great catch-up,” she recalled in earlier interviews. But Carter lingered at the airport for over an hour before hailing a taxi around 2:10 p.m.—not to his mine site in the Pilbara, but to Trigg Beach in Perth’s northern suburbs.

A witness sighting placed him near the Trigg Surf Life Saving Club about 2:40 p.m., walking slowly along the shoreline as daylight waned. Described as appearing contemplative or distressed, Carter has not been seen since. No phone activity, no bank transactions, no further CCTV. Police confirmed the beach detour in mid-December updates, urging anyone present that afternoon to come forward with dashcam or photos.

The case has gripped Western Australia, with social media appeals going viral and Reddit threads in r/perth discussing the isolating pressures of FIFO life—long rosters, mental health strains, and coastal “last sightings” that often end tragically. O’Byrne has been candid about her son’s recent challenges: returning from a Zambia trip to visit his father, coming off anti-anxiety medication, and facing what she called a “situational crisis” affecting his outlook. “It’s completely out of character,” she said, her voice breaking. “He’s quiet, hardworking—everyone loves him.”

Police statements emphasize the search continues by land, air, and sea, with no evidence of foul play. But the repeated “ongoing” phrasing, absent bolder assurances of imminent breakthroughs, has unsettled observers and family alike. Sources close to the investigation note resources remain allocated, but the lack of traces after nine days raises unspoken concerns. As one commenter put it online: “When they stop saying ‘we believe he’s out there’ and just say ‘ongoing,’ it’s heartbreaking.”

Carter’s partner Janae Williamson and employer confirmed he never arrived at the mine. Family rules out financial issues, focusing on welfare worries. Vigils and community shares amplify pleas: Anyone with information, contact police on 131 444 immediately.

Trigg Beach—a stunning stretch of white sand and turquoise waves popular for surfing—now looms large in the mystery. Why the detour? Why the solitary walk as sunset approached? Questions haunt O’Byrne, who spends days listening for familiar footsteps, caught between clinging hope and deepening heartbreak.

As the year ends, her plea echoes: “Just come home, Bill. We’re waiting.”

The search goes on—but for a grieving mother, every unchanged update feels like another crack in the fragile wall of hope.