Vital clue revealed as search continues for Téa Wright-Finger

Police have revealed where they are focussing their search for a missing North Queensland teen who disappeared eight days ago.

A signal from missing Richmond teen Téa Wright-Finger’s mobile phone has provided a vital clue to police about where to focus their search efforts.

Tea Wright-Finger, 19, was last seen in the Richmond area on the afternoon of Sunday, October 16, on Coalbrook Road, in a blue Toyota Prado 4WD.

A land and air search started on Saturday and continued on Monday with police focusing efforts in the Flinders River area close to the Richmond township.

This was based on information from Téa’s mobile phone which was switched on briefly around 9.30am on Tuesday, October 18.

Police are appealing for information on missing 19-year-old Tea Wright-Finger.

Townsville District Western Patrol Group Inspector Damien Crosby said their “priority was locating Tea safe and well and we will continue to search in that Richmond area until we’re given information to the contrary”.

He said Tea was employed in a pastoral industry and had some connections to local stations in the Richmond area.

“Resources and assets involved in that search include SES, QPS, trained search and rescue coordinators, some resources from the Richmond Shire Council, and we thank them for that, as well as some aerial assets including some helicopters,” Inspector Crosby said.

“Some local Richmond Shire Council employees have a really good local working knowledge of the train involved.”

Inspector Crosby described the search as “scalable”.

“As more information comes to hand we either enlarge or reduce the search area that we’re concentrating on,” he said.

Using an off-road buggy and vehicle, SES personnel will search tracks and areas of thick vegetation on the banks of the Flinders River near the township of Richmond as well as a neighbouring rural property.

The Mount Isa RACQ LifeFlight Rescue helicopter is searching areas north of Richmond and down to the southern boundary of Blackbraes National Park.

On Sunday, the Mount Isa RACQ LifeFlight Rescue covered more than 700 kilometres in aerial searching, including Cloncurry, Four Ways and Julia Creek.

Tea is described as Caucasian, approximately 180cms tall with a medium build and blondish/light brown hair.

Anyone who has seen Tea or the blue 2013 Toyota Prado 4WD with Queensland registration 210-TLA is urged to immediately contact Policelink or by contacting or Crimestoppers as concerns are held for her safety and well-being.

Mother’s urgent appeal to find missing Richmond teen Téa Wright-Finger

The mother of a missing North Queensland woman has made an emotional plea for her daughter to make contact after disappearing a week ago.

Téa Wright-Finger, 19, was last seen in Richmond after being dropped off by a friend at her 4WD on Coalbrook Rd about 3pm on Sunday, October 16.

Tea and the 4WD she had been driving – a blue 2013 Toyota Prado with Queensland registration 210-TLA – have not been seen since this time.

Police continued an extensive land and air search for the missing 19-year-old over the weekend.

It involved vehicular searches of the area, including extensive road networks, and aerial searches involving two helicopters.

Police have commenced a land and air search for a 19-year-old woman who was last seen in Richmond on October 16.

Téa’s mother, Tracey Wright said she holds serious concerns for the safety and wellbeing of her daughter.

She said Téa worked at Richmond Downs Station and had not used her bank account or phone since Sunday.

“I’d just ask her to contact me so I know she is safe and tell her I love her unconditionally,” she said.

Police and family are urging anyone who has seen Tea, or the vehicle, to contact them immediately.

Téa is described as caucasian, approximately 180cms tall, with a medium build and blondish/light brown hair.

Originally published as Vital clue revealed as search continues for Téa Wright-Finger