Housemates of missing Aussie teen charged with murder
The housemates of missing Australian teen Pheobe Bishop are set to appear in court after being charged with the 17-year-old's murder.
James Wood, 34, and Tanika Bromley, 33, were arrested in southern Queensland's Bundaberg area on Thursday night.
It marked three weeks to the day after Pheobe missed a flight and vanished.
Wood and Bromley were also charged with two counts each of interfering with a corpse.
Pheobe's remains were yet to be located, police said.
Pheobe's mother Kylie Johnson said on Thursday night her family had been "shattered".
Ms Johnson had been posting on social media almost every day since her daughter's "suspicious" disappearance pleading for information.
"Our world has just been shattered into the most horrific place I've ever been…" she wrote on Thursday night.
"I need my baby home to put her to rest! I'm absolutely begging anyone that knows anything to come forward.
"We need to put her to rest, we need to put her to peace."
Wood and Bromley are set to appear in Bundaberg Magistrates Court on Friday.
Police will address the media at a press conference in Bundaberg from 9am AEST on Friday.
"Detectives continue to investigate this matter, and physical searches will continue as needed as information is provided," a Queensland Police statement said.
Pheobe was last seen near Bundaberg airport about 8.30am on May 15 after booking a trip to Western Australia to see her boyfriend.
CCTV footage indicated Pheobe never arrived at the airport terminal.
Wood had previously been taken into custody on Wednesday but was released several hours later without charge.
The search for Pheobe was scaled back on Wednesday after police had spent weeks combing several areas of interest in southern Queensland.
One of those areas was a property in Gin Gin where Pheobe had lived with Wood and Bromley.
The Gin Gin property near Bundaberg and a grey Hyundai ix35, thought to have been used to take Pheobe to the airport, were declared crime scenes soon after her disappearance which police described as suspicious.
The police search at one stage focused on Good Night Scrub national park, an hour's drive from Bundaberg airport, with homicide detectives, cadaver dogs and divers called in.
Some items believed to be linked to the investigation were seized for forensic examination.
The search revealed evidence might have been moved from the national park before police arrived.
Wood and Bromley had earlier been charged with unrelated weapons offences.
The heartbreaking toll of Pheobe's disappearance had been documented by Ms Johnson's social media posts as they held on to hope.
"I don't know if life will ever be the same again? I don't know if I will ever look at the world the same way that I did before May 15th," Ms Johnson posted on Wednesday.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
1News
a day ago
- 1News
Missing Queensland teen's body found near national park
The body of missing and suspected-murdered teenager Pheobe Bishop has been found in national park bushland on the same day two housemates faced court, charged over her death. Police confirmed the remains, believed to be Pheobe, were found about 2.30pm on Friday near Good Night Scrub National Park, southwest of Bundaberg in Queensland. Pheobe's mother Kylie Johnson was quick to share her grief. "I didn't think my heart could break anymore than it did when you went missing, or when the charges were laid but this! This is ripping me apart..." she posted on Facebook. Detectives have set up a crime scene where the body was found and continue to appeal for further information. ADVERTISEMENT Earlier on Friday Pheobe's sister Kaylea Bishop issued a heartbreaking plea to find her sibling outside a southern Queensland court where James Wood, 34, and Tanika Bromley, 33, were remanded in custody. Pheobe's two housemates have been charged with murder and two counts each of interfering with a corpse. They were arrested on Thursday night, marking three weeks to the day since the 17-year-old missed a flight and vanished. Pheobe's sister was flanked by supporters at Bundaberg Magistrates Court, where Wood and Bromley's matter was mentioned on Friday. Locals gathered outside court including one holding up a sign in support of the missing teen's shattered family as Pheobe's sister launched her tearful appeal. "If you've got any information about Pheobe... just come forward," she told reporters. "Three weeks is too long for us as a family. We just want her home. ADVERTISEMENT "She was loved, she's missed dearly." Police allege Wood and Bromley moved Pheobe's body more than once. "Whilst we always hoped to find Pheobe alive, our investigation... quite clearly showed us that that was not going to be a viable outcome," Detective Inspector Craig Mansfield said. Kylie Johnson with her daughter Pheobe Bishop. (Source: Facebook / Kylie Johnson ) Pheobe was last seen near Bundaberg airport about 8.30am on May 15 after booking a trip to Western Australia to see her boyfriend. Wood and Bromley were housemates with Pheobe at a Gin Gin property near Bundaberg. Police allege the pair drove the 17-year-old close to the airport in a grey Hyundai but no one exited the car. ADVERTISEMENT Pheobe was allegedly murdered, and her body moved more than once from the Good Night Scrub National Park, an hour's drive from the airport. Police had previously searched the park, saying their investigations indicated evidence may have been moved before officers arrived. Phone data had led to officers focusing their search on the park, police said. Police believe they understand the motive for Pheobe's alleged murder, the detective said. Wood's SUV has been seized by police for forensic examination. He had been living in the vehicle after the Gin Gin property he shared with Bromley and Pheobe was declared a crime scene following the teen's disappearance. Police bodycam footage released on Friday showed the moment Wood was arrested in the Bundaberg area, with an officer telling him he was being taken into custody over the "homicide" of Pheobe. ADVERTISEMENT Wood and Bromley have been remanded in custody ahead of their next court appearance on August 11. They had earlier been charged with unrelated weapons offences after police allegedly found a shortened firearm, ammunition and two replica handguns in their car and home. The Gin Gin community is set to hold a vigil for Pheobe in coming days. "It's a sad day for the community and a devastating one for Pheobe's family," Bundaberg Mayor Helen Blackburn told AAP.
NZ Herald
2 days ago
- NZ Herald
Erin Patterson trial: Mushroom cook's answer to death cap question
Alleged poisoner Erin Patterson has finished giving evidence for the week at her triple-murder trial after responding 'depends' when questioned in an Australian court if she had an interest in death cap mushrooms. Patterson, 50, returned to the witness box on Friday for her fifth day giving evidence at her
Otago Daily Times
2 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
Qld teen's body found after housemates charged with murder
The body of missing and suspected-murdered teenager Pheobe Bishop has been found in national park bushland on the same day two housemates faced court charged over her death. Police confirmed the remains, believed to be Phoebe, were found about 2.30pm on Friday near Good Night Scrub National Park, southwest of Bundaberg in Queensland. Pheobe's mother Kylie Johnson was quick to share her grief. "I didn't think my heart could break anymore then it did when you went missing, or when the charges were laid but this! This is ripping me apart ..." she posted on Facebook. Detectives have set up a crime scene where the body was found and continue to appeal for further information. Earlier on Friday Phoebe's sister Kaylea Bishop issued a heartbreaking plea to find her sibling outside a southern Queensland court where James Wood, 34, and Tanika Bromley, 33, were remanded in custody. Pheobe's two housemates have been charged with murder and two counts each of interfering with a corpse. They were arrested on Thursday night, marking three weeks to the day since the 17-year-old missed a flight and vanished. Pheobe's sister was flanked by supporters at Bundaberg Magistrates Court, where Wood and Bromley's matter was mentioned on Friday. Locals gathered outside court including one holding up a sign in support of the missing teen's shattered family as Pheobe's sister launched her tearful appeal. "If you've got any information about Pheobe ... just come forward," she told reporters. "Three weeks is too long for us as a family. We just want her home. "She was loved, she's missed dearly." Police allege Wood and Bromley moved Pheobe's body more than once. "Whilst we always hoped to find Pheobe alive, our investigation ... quite clearly showed us that that was not going to be a viable outcome," Detective Inspector Craig Mansfield said. Pheobe was last seen near Bundaberg airport about 8.30am on May 15 after booking a trip to Western Australia to see her boyfriend. Wood and Bromley were housemates with Pheobe at a Gin Gin property near Bundaberg. Police allege the pair drove the 17-year-old close to the airport in a grey Hyundai but no one exited the car. Pheobe was allegedly murdered and her body moved more than once from the Good Night Scrub National Park, an hour's drive from the airport. Police had previously searched the park, saying their investigations indicated evidence may have been moved before officers arrived. Phone data had led to officers focusing their search on the park, police said. Police believe they understand the motive for Pheobe's alleged murder, the detective said. Wood's SUV has been seized by police for forensic examination. He had been living in the vehicle after the Gin Gin property he shared with Bromley and Pheobe was declared a crime scene following the teen's disappearance. Police bodycam footage released on Friday showed the moment Wood was arrested in the Bundaberg area, with an officer telling him he was being taken into custody over the "homicide" of Pheobe. Wood and Bromley have been remanded in custody ahead of their next court appearance on August 11. They had earlier been charged with unrelated weapons offences after police allegedly found a shortened firearm, ammunition and two replica handguns in their car and home. The Gin Gin community is set to hold a vigil for Pheobe in coming days. "It's a sad day for the community and a devastating one for Pheobe's family," Bundaberg Mayor Helen Blackburn told AAP.
