Missing teenager Tristan Frank pronounced deceased by WA Coroner

A WA Coroner has handed down her findings into the disappearance of teenager Tristan Frank who went missing in the East Kimberley in 2020, pronouncing the boy deceased. In December 2020, Tristan had travelled to Balgo with his grandparents to attend a family member’s funeral in another nearby community. When his grandparents left to continue on to the funeral, Tristan stayed behind with extended family. On his grandparents’ return to Balgo a few days later, Tristan had gone missing with no one seeing the boy since December 3. An extensive police search of the townsite, surrounding land and nearby communities was initiated but no sign of the teen was ever found. Handing down her report on January 22, Deputy State Coroner Sarah Linton found that Tristan was deceased beyond a reasonable doubt although she was unable to determine how. Another search was initiated a few months later after the matter was reviewed by the homicide squad but the search turned up no new evidence. According to the coroner, Tristan was generally happy and there was no reason for him to want to take his own life or voluntarily disappear. At the time, investigating police and Tristan’s next of kin believed the boy was deceased, although his remains had not been recovered. Police believe Tristan wandered off from the townsite and likely became lost and disoriented in the Kimberley’s harsh conditions and died in the days following, with a survival expert suggesting the boy was deceased before a search ever began. However, Tristan’s family firmly believe he was taken by “Featherfoot men” who concealed him from discovery somewhere in the lands outside of Balgo with the family claiming they can feel the boy’s spirit. Either way, police and Tristan’s family both believe he is no longer alive and that no one is responsible for his death.