Body of Tea Wright-Finger found in remote bushland in outback Queensland

A desperate search for a missing teenage girl has ended in heartache as her body is found in remote bushland some six weeks after she posted disturbing TikTok videos.

Tea Wright-Finger, 19, vanished after she was dropped off by a friend near Richmond, 500km west of Townsville, Queensland, on October 16.

She wasn’t seen or heard from since, despite a massive air and land search spanning thousands of kilometres.

Police later revealed the car she was last seen in, a blue Toyota Prado, had been stolen two days before Ms Wright-Finger disappeared.

A mustering helicopter found the abandoned vehicle in remote bushland near Richmond on Thursday morning. 

Hours after the breakthrough, search crews located the body of a woman believed to be Ms Wright-Finger in bushland some 600m away.

The body of Tea Wright-Finger has been found, six weeks after she vanished without a trace

Preliminary information suggests Ms Wright-Finger’s death is not suspicious.

‘Police have spoken to Tea’s family, and we extend our deep condolences to her family and loved ones,’ a statement read.

‘Investigators would like to thank the SES local property owners and the community for their assistance and information provided during the search for Tea.’

The dramatic development came just hours after Queensland Police released footage of the moment detectives found the car. 

Footage shows officers landing a helicopter and approaching the car. A gloved hand then opens the passenger side’s front door to reveal an open glove box with a pink container inside. 

The Toyota Prado was reported stolen from Proserpine 700km away on October 14, two days before Ms Wright disappeared.

Dramatic footage of the moment police located a blue Toyota Prado driven by the teen missing in the remote outback has been released by police, six weeks after she vanished without a trace

Dramatic footage of the moment police located a blue Toyota Prado driven by the teen missing in the remote outback has been released by police, six weeks after she vanished without a trace

Police found the stolen Toyota Prado in remote bushland near Richmond in outback Queensland on Wednesday morning

Police found the stolen Toyota Prado in remote bushland near Richmond in outback Queensland on Wednesday morning 

Tea Wright-Finger (pictured) vanished without a trace on October 16. The search ended in tragedy six weeks later after her body was found on Thursday

Tea Wright-Finger (pictured) vanished without a trace on October 16. The search ended in tragedy six weeks later after her body was found on Thursday

Detectives scaled back the search last month after nine days, but recently ramped the investigation back up again – releasing fresh CCTV of Ms Wright-Finger wandering around a Richmond service station on October 16.

The CCTV captured the teen wearing a light pink and purple dress and a pair of Birkenstock sandals before she paid for a bottle of juice at the counter.

Ms Wright-Finger appeared to be looking over her shoulder at various points in the CCTV before she walked out of the petrol station, never to be seen again.

Her mum Traci Wright issued a frantic plea for information at the time.

The 2013 blue Toyota Prado (pictured) Ms Wright-Finger was last seen travelling in was found on Wednesday

The 2013 blue Toyota Prado (pictured) Ms Wright-Finger was last seen travelling in was found on Wednesday

‘If someone has seen Téa or knows anything please call the police or myself,’ she posted.

Several days days earlier, Ms Wright thanked friends and family who been in touch and helped spread word about the search for Téa

‘This has helped me so much to cope, as I don’t feel alone, and everyone is helping carry the pain,’ Mr Wright wrote.

‘I honestly do not believe I would be coping if I did not have all my family, friends and people I have never met offering there love, support, prayers, positive thoughts.

Les than a fortnight before she went missing, the cattle station worker posted a haunting TikTok video, which was captioned, ‘I don’t feel so good, I want to go home.’

The video – featuring pictures of Ms Wright-Finger and rural outback scenes – has since been inundated with comments from worried friends.

The post sparked an outpouring of concern and grief from concerned friends. 

Ms Wright-Finger was captured on CCTV wandering around a Richmond roadhouse on October 16 in the hours before she vanished

Ms Wright-Finger was captured on CCTV wandering around a Richmond roadhouse on October 16 in the hours before she vanished

The teenager posted a series of concerning TikTok videos in the weeks leading up to her disappearance

The teenager posted a series of concerning TikTok videos in the weeks leading up to her disappearance

Another of her final TikTok posts was on her 19th birthday where she detailed the lessons she had learnt so far in life.

That included the ominous warning that: ‘It’s okay to feel lost sometimes’.

‘Always take risks in life, you never know when it’s going to end,’ she says in the clip.

‘You always have to work hard to get what you want, no one is going to hand it to you. If people want you in their life, they will make time for you.’

Another TikTok video posted before Tea vanished revealed her pain and anguish at the loss of loved one in a touching tribute video.

She combined clips of the young man joking around with mates and an apparent memorial service where friends and families released balloons in his memory.

Ms Wright-Finger was working at Richmond Downs Station, where she loved her job, according to her mum. 

Tea Wright-Finger posted her last TikTok video 12 days before she went missing. Her body was found in remote bushland on Thursday, six weeks after she vanished

Tea Wright-Finger posted her last TikTok video 12 days before she went missing. Her body was found in remote bushland on Thursday, six weeks after she vanished

Tracy Wright (left) has spent the last six weeks desperate to find out what happened to her daughter (right)

Tracy Wright (left) has spent the last six weeks desperate to find out what happened to her daughter (right)

Tragic timeline of TikTok star 

October 4: Tea Wright-Finger posts a chilling final TikTok clip of herself and footage of an outback cattle station she described as home.

October 16:  Tea was dropped off by a friend near a 2013 blue Toyota Prado on the outskirts of Richmond, 500km west of Townsville. It would be last time she’s seen alive. 

October 18-22:  Police trace her mobile phone and discovered it was switched on briefly on the morning of Tuesday October 18 in the Flinders River area close to the Richmond township.

October 22: Queensland Police launch a large scale land and air search for Ms Wright-Finger spanning thousands of kilometres.

October 27:  Police reveal the Toyota Prado had been stolen from Prosperine 700km away in two days before the teen disappeared.

October 30: The large scale land and air search for Tea and the vehicle is scaled back.

November 16: Police ramp up the search again as they release fresh CCTV of Tea wandering around a Richmond Service station and paying for a bottle of juice hours before she vanished.

November 30:  A mustering helicopter locates the abandoned Toyota Prado in remote bushland near Richmond

December 1: Search crews find Tea’s body 600m from the vehicle.

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