Pheobe Bishop's mum issues 'important' message to Australia about accused killer's family
Pheobe Bishop's mum has urged the community to treat her daughter's alleged killer's family with respect at a moving vigil in memory of slain teen.
The community held a candlelight vigil at Kolan Community Park in Gin Gin between 4pm and 6pm on Sunday with about 500 mourners wearing bright colours and butterflies.
Pheobe, 17, went missing near Queensland 's Bundaberg Airport about 8.30am on May 15 after booking a trip to WA. On Friday, officers discovered what were believed to be the teenager's remains near Goodnight Scrub National Park.
The find was made in 'unforgiving' terrain southwest of Bundaberg. Investigators are also trying to recover the teenager's missing luggage but are expected to wind up their efforts on Saturday evening.
Pheobe's housemates, James Wood, 34, and Tanika Bromley, 33, fronted Bundaberg Magistrates Court on Friday accused of her murder, three weeks to the day after she missed a flight and vanished. Police alleged they moved her body more than once.
Pheobe was reported missing after failing to check in and board a flight to Perth, where she planned to meet up with her boyfriend, who Daily Mail Australia has not named because of his age.
Pheobe's mum Kylie Johnson urged the Gin Gin community to 'respect' Bromley's family following the charges against her.
Last week, a court heard Bromley cared for two children, including one living with a disability, as part of a shared custody arrangement.
Bromley appeared in the Bundaberg Magistrates Court via video link on Monday and on Tuesday, when she was granted bail over separate weapons offences.
They included possessing restricted items and unlawful possession of a short firearm.
Ms Johnson stoically called on the local community to remain peaceful and said her daughter would want people to show 'compassion'.
'I also want to remind our community - a very important reminder - and this is imperative for our family and for us to move forward in our healing,' she said.
'I know Tanika has been charged. I know her family live within our community and I expect them to receive respect... Those kids mean the world to us as a family.
'They meant the world to Phoebe as a family as well. It is imperative to us, as a family, that they are supported just as much as us. They are hurting probably more than us, even though we have lost our child.
'But I really need you to know that Phoebe's compassion would have reached that depth.
'There is to be no anger or hate towards that family.'
Kylie read out two poems in memory of her 'gypsy warrior' daughter as she shared how Pheobe 'always sung her own tune' and 'lived to the fullest'.
The grieving mother told mourners her daughter loved those she cared about 'to every extent of the earth'.
'She had a gypsy soul and a warrior spirit. She made no apologies for her wild heart and, anybody that knew her, knew that she made no apologies for any of her opinions,' she continued.
'She left normal and regular to explore the outskirts of magical and extraordinary, and she was glorious. She was, and she continues to be. We will make sure that she is remembered for that brilliance and that gypsy soul that she had.'
Ms Johnson told mourners her daughter's spirit 'lives on with each and every one of us'.
'Each time we travel, each time we talk about her, each time we say, ''Phoebe had an opinion about this or Phoebe showed me love and compassion and held my children like nobody had ever held them before.
'That's the Phoebe we remember, that's the Phoebe we honour and that's the Phoebe that we take every day and everywhere with us.'
Ms Johnson said the three weeks since her daughter disappeared had been a nightmare for her but thanked the community for its support.
A family friend yesterday launched a GoFundMe in the teenager's memory, with proceeds going to the SES and Y Schools Bundaberg, which Pheobe attended.
It has so far raised over $5,000.
Ms Johnson also took aim at a fake GoFundMe that has appeared online.
She said that page, which has a $10,000 target, had not been 'approved or supported' by the family.
The genuine fundraiser is being handled by Tracey Berends.
On Friday, Pheobe's older sister, Kaylea, 18, had begged for help finding her sister's body in an impassioned plea outside Bundaberg Magistrates Court after Bromley and Wood's murder charges were heard.
She sat in the far corner of the front row, staring straight ahead flanked by friends, family and a court security guard as details of the murder charges against the couple were read out.
Neither Wood nor Bromley appeared in person or by video link for the hearing and afterwards Kaylea walked outside to make her heartbreaking statement.
'We just want her home,' she said tearfully through red-rimmed eyes. 'I don't know what to say, if you've got any information about Pheobe or the car, just come forward.
'Three weeks is too long for us as a family. She was loved, she's missed dearly.'
It comes as the house where Pheobe lived has been turned into a shrine, with a makeshift memorial appearing at the ramshackle, rubbish-strewn Gin Gin home Pheobe shared with Bromley and Wood.
A large pink teddy bear stood guard over the property, surrounded with bouquets of flowers.
A poignant message left by one mourner read: 'Pheobe, you grew your wings too early beautiful girl. Now, you will no longer feel pain or heartache. You can spread your wings, and know you will be loved.'
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