Second housemate of Pheobe Bishop on Gin Gin property faces weapons-related charges as desperate search for Queensland missing teenager continues

Sky News AU

4 days ago

A second housemate of missing teenager Pheobe Bishop's has been charged with weapons-related offences after his partner faced court on similar counts just a few days prior.
Gin Gin couple Tanika Bromley and James Wood were the last people 17-year-old Pheobe was seen with.
The pair drove the now missing teen in a grey Hyundai ix35 to Airport Drive, Bundaberg, on the morning of May 15.
The teen was scheduled to fly from Bundaberg to Western Australia, via Brisbane, but never made it to her flight.
Footage from the airport also failed to locate Pheobe ever entering the terminal, despite her housemates claiming she was dropped off.
Days after her disappearance, police established two crime scenes at the Gin Gin property she was living in with Wood and Bromley, and the grey Hyundai she was last seen in.
On Wednesday night police charged Wood with one count each of unlawful possession of weapons Category D/H/R (short firearm) and authority to possess explosives.
"Police have charged a man with weapons offences, after police allegedly located a shortened firearm and ammunition during a search of a grey Hyundai ix35 and a Gin Gin home, both of which had been declared crime scenes for an unrelated matter," Queensland Police wrote in a statment.
Wood, 34, has been given a notice to appear before Bundaberg Magistrates Court on June 13.
Bromley, 33, also faces weapons charges after she was arrested in Bundaberg on Sunday, with offences including possession of restricted items and unlawful possession of weapons.
Police allegedly located a shortened firearm, ammunition and two replica handguns, inside her grey Hyundai, but she was granted bail for her offences on Tuesday.
Magistrate John McInnes told Bundaberg Magistrates Court, the 33-year-old seemed to have an "unhealthy interest" in weaponry, but her limited criminal record and possible subjections to "coercion, violence and duress" were in her favour, the ABC reported.
She was granted bail with a curfew, and an order to report to the police station three times a week.
Bromley was seen in public for the first time on Wednesday during a mandatory reporting to the Gin Gin Police station, as part of her bail conditions.
The mother-of-two was hounded by journalists with questions relating to Pheobe's disappearance as she was leaving the station, but she remained silent with her head down in a hoodie, while gazing outside the car window.
Her matter is set to return to court on June 23.
Tanika Bromley's brother, Sean, told SkyNews.com.au his sister had previously been "caught with guns" and "went off the rails" after becoming involved with Wood.
"My mother was constantly worried about Tanika and about her grandchildren, Tanika was off the rails," he said.
"We all knew she had gone off the rails, so we and many others contacted police, media, children, and animal welfare."
Detective ­Inspector Ryan Thompson said the weapons found in Ms Bromley's car had not been linked to Pheobe's disappearance.
Sky News also makes no suggestions Wood or Bromley were involved in Pheobe's disappearance.
'That vehicle was seized by police, it was treated as a crime scene. A number of examinations were conducted on that vehicle and items seized and that has since been released by police,' Det Insp Thompson said.
'There's no suggestion at all that this weapon was involved in this investigation …'
As police now look to further locations for evidence relating to Pheobe, a bushland search of the Good Night Scrub has been suspended after five days of scouring through rugged terrain.
Specialist police, including the Dog Squad, worked alongside rescue helicopters, divers, and the SES to search the dense bushland and waterways in the area, but the search was called off late Tuesday afternoon.
Queensland Police revealed on Saturday some items believed to be linked to the investigation were located during their search and have been seized for forensic processes.
Further, detectives also discovered some evidence at the Good Night Scrub may have been moved prior to police arrival, probing police to now expand their search
"Investigations are ongoing and police are continuing to run out several lines of enquiry," Queensland Police wrote in a statement on Wednesday morning.
"In addition to investigative work, physical searches will continue as needed and as information is provided.
"The greater Gin Gin area remains the focus of the investigation."
Police are continuing to appeal for information, vision, or sightings of the grey Hyundai ix35 in which Pheobe was last seen travelling between May 15 and 18.