NT police find body of missing German tourist

NT police find body of missing German tourist
By Alexandra Coulton


Police have located the body of missing German tourist, Monika Billen using information recovered from her phone companies.

Billen was found almost 3km west of Emily Gap, where she was last seen outside of Alice Springs, according to the ABC.

Police had called off the search for the 62-year-old, who had been missing since New Year’s Day but continued to look after receiving information from telecommunication companies.

The holidaymaker was spotted on CCTV leaving Desert Palms Resort in Alice Springs at 10:30 am on New Year’s day but failed to check out on the 5th of January.

However, she was not reported missing until the 8th of January, a week after she had last been seen.

Emily Gap

Emily Gap

Police believe Billen may have gone on a hike, but temperatures were as high as 43.5C on the day she was last seen.

“Police received additional information from Ms Billen’s telecommunications provider and have continued with aerial searches in specific areas for the past two days,” Superintendent Pauline Vicary said according to the ABC.

“It has required extensive work, interpreting data from both international and national phone providers, but the outcome assisted in narrowing down the search parameters and eventually locating Ms Billen.”

The ABC received a letter from Billen’s family earlier in the week urging the Alice Springs public to come forward with any information that could lead to her location.

“Monika has travelled off-the-beaten-path for many years and in many countries and has always proceeded with caution,” they wrote.

“It is normal for her to take several days between messages to us, and that is why we did not know at first that she was missing.

“We have been consumed with worry ever since we heard of Monika’s disappearance, especially because we know her as a very responsible and capable person.”

Featured image source: ABC

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