WA Police investigation into disappearance of Tristan Frank remains open four years on

Police are determined to solve the case of a boy who disappeared four years ago, while the boy’s family have offered their own theory as to what happened. Find out what.

The Tanami Road on the way to Balgo. Picture: Adam Head

Four years after a 14-year-old vanished without a trace in the Tanami Desert, the investigation remains open and police “committed to finding out exactly what happened” – while family believe there was something supernatural at play.

On December 3, 2020, 14-year-old Tristan Frank disappeared from Balgo, WA, 840km north west of Alice Springs.

He has not been seen since.

In January this year, WA Deputy State Coroner Sarah Linton believed “beyond all reasonable doubt” he had died, but due to limited evidence, was unable to deduce how.

However, WA Police still consider the investigation open.

“WA Police remains committed to finding out exactly what happened in Balgo in early December 2020, and will investigate any new information received that could help provide those answers,” a spokesperson said.

Balgo, Western Australia.

This masthead understands Tristan is originally from Yuendumu.

In her findings, Ms Linton said he would frequently travel between remote communities in the Territory and WA.

In December 2020, he travelled to Balgo with his grandparents and cousins by car from the NT, Ms Linton said in her findings.

Once in Balgo, he stayed with a friend instead of heading to a funeral with his grandparents.

Ms Linton said that at the friends house, Tristan stayed up and reconnected with old friends and smoked cannabis, before going to bed in the early hours of the morning.

Tristan was gone by the morning, with no one able to find him.

His grandparents reported him missing December 6, 2020.

14-year-old Tristan Frank who was last seen a Balgo Community in the Tanami Desert on December 3. Picture: Supplied

“A thorough investigation was then undertaken in both Western Australia and the Northern Territory to try to find Tristan, or find out what happened to him. To date, Tristan has not been found and the police have been unable to determine what happened to him,” Ms Linton said in her findings.

Ms Linton described Tristan as “generally happy” and said “there was no reason for him to want to take his own life or voluntarily disappear”.

In her findings, Ms Linton said family members believe Tristan did not walk away.

Family instead believe he was taken by “featherfoot”, “a traditional lore man who has powers that ordinary men do not have; powers that can influence another person’s life and cause their death,” Ms Linton said.

The view from the lookout at Balgo. Picture: Adam Head

Searches were conducted around where the community believed featherfoot could have taken Tristan, but no trace was found, Ms Linton said.

Ms Linton said police ruled out Tristan being taken by outsiders as his disappearance was during the height of Covid restrictions.

At the time of his disappearance, he was wearing a grey cap, a grey T-shirt with a pattern on it, shorts, and enclosed shoes.

He also might have had a black hoodie.

Anyone with information on Tristan’s disappearance is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.