The disappearance of Western Australian man Bill Carter has taken a new and unsettling turn after police revealed fresh details centered on a single phone call made at 1:05pm — a call investigators now say may hold critical clues about what happened in the final moments before he vanished.

Carter, a FIFO worker, was dropped off at Perth Airport to begin a routine work stint. He never arrived at his destination. Since that day, there have been no confirmed sightings, no verified movements beyond the airport, and no contact with family or colleagues.

Now, police say one detail long overlooked has re-emerged as a focal point of the investigation.

A Disappearance That Made No Sense From the Start

Bill Carter’s vanishing initially appeared baffling precisely because it occurred in plain sight. He was dropped at a major international airport — a controlled, monitored environment with cameras, staff, and constant movement.

Yet after entering the terminal, Carter seemed to vanish.

For weeks, investigators focused on tracing his movements through CCTV, travel records, and digital footprints. While some early leads were examined, nothing explained how a man preparing for work could disappear without triggering immediate alarms.

That is now changing.

The 1:05pm Phone Call

Police have confirmed that Carter placed or received a phone call at exactly 1:05pm shortly after arriving at Perth Airport. At the time, the call was logged but not publicly emphasized.

Investigators now believe that was a mistake.

According to police, new analysis suggests the call may contain information critical to understanding Carter’s state of mind, intentions, or immediate plans.

Authorities have not disclosed the call’s recipient or content, citing the ongoing investigation. However, they confirmed that the timing and circumstances surrounding the call no longer align with what investigators previously believed.

“This call matters,” one official said. “And we need the public’s help to understand why.”

What Changed in the Investigation

Police say recent breakthroughs in timeline reconstruction prompted them to re-examine the call more closely.

The review revealed inconsistencies between Carter’s expected movements and what could be confirmed after the call ended. From that moment forward, the trail effectively goes cold.

No boarding pass scan.
No confirmed departure.
No verified exit from the terminal.

The call is now seen as a potential pivot point — the last known interaction before Carter disappeared.

FIFO Routine — Or Something Else?

FIFO workers follow strict schedules. Missed flights are rare and immediately noticed. Carter’s failure to arrive at his work site raised red flags quickly, prompting contact with family and authorities.

What investigators are now questioning is whether Carter ever intended to board his flight at all — or whether the 1:05pm call altered his plans.

Police stress that there is no evidence at this stage of voluntary disappearance. Carter left personal belongings behind and had no known reason to abandon his routine.

That makes the call even more significant.

No Confirmed Sightings After the Call

Despite extensive CCTV review, police have not publicly confirmed any verified sightings of Carter after the 1:05pm call.

This absence is troubling.

Airports are among the most surveilled public spaces. For someone to disappear without a trace suggests either a gap in coverage — or a deliberate deviation that went unnoticed at the time.

Investigators are now appealing to anyone who may have interacted with Carter, even briefly, around that timeframe.

Why Police Are Speaking Out Now

Authorities acknowledge that releasing information about the call earlier may have generated confusion. However, they say the case has reached a point where public awareness is critical.

“We believe someone knows something,” police said. “Even a small detail could help us understand what happened.”

The decision to highlight the call signals a shift from quiet investigation to active public engagement.

Family Still Waiting for Answers

For Carter’s family, the new revelation is both hopeful and devastating.

Hopeful — because it suggests progress.
Devastating — because it confirms how little is still known.

They continue to urge anyone with information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, to come forward.

An Investigation Still Open — And Urgent

Police emphasize that the case remains active and that multiple avenues are being pursued. The phone call is now one of several key elements under review, alongside financial records, travel data, and digital activity.

No conclusions have been drawn.
No theories confirmed.

But the focus has narrowed.

Final Takeaway

The disappearance of Bill Carter remains a mystery — but the 1:05pm phone call has emerged as a potential key to unlocking what happened next.

Whether it reveals a change of plans, an unexpected encounter, or something more troubling remains unknown.

What is clear is this:
One moment.
One call.
And a man vanished.

Police are asking the public to help fill in the silence that followed.