Police hunt for missing luggage after teen's body found

The Advertiser

14 hours ago

Police will continue to comb unforgiving terrain where the remains of a missing teenager were found as they attempt to recover a key item to their murder investigation, her luggage.
James Wood, 34, and Tanika Bromley, 33, were charged three weeks to the day after 17-year-old Pheobe Bishop missed a flight and vanished in southern Queensland.
Officers discovered what are believed to be the teenager's remains about 2.30pm on Friday near Good Night Scrub National Park, about 280km northeast of Brisbane and nine kilometres from the original search site.
Police allege Wood and Bromley moved Pheobe's body a number of times.
Detective Inspector Craig Mansfield revealed on Saturday that the remains were not buried but did not give specifics of the scene.
"The remains were found in bushland ... coupled with snippets of information and telecommunications data; that's allowed us to find this location," he said.
"It's an unforgiving terrain."
Detectives have set up a crime scene and continue to appeal for further information.
Insp Mansfield confirmed the 17-year-old's luggage had not been located.
He said forensic searches of a home in Gin Gin, where the girl lived, had not identified anything significant.
"However that scene is complex, we are still waiting on a number of forensic results to come back from that examination," Insp Mansfield said.
Officers have been in contact with Pheobe's family, with her mother Kylie Johnson quick to share her grief on social media.
"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.
Wood and Bromley were housemates with Pheobe on the property at Gin Gin, a quiet regional community near Bundaberg left reeling from the tragedy.
"There is a sense of 'this wouldn't happen here'," Bundaberg Mayor Helen Blackburn told AAP.
"We believe our community to be kind and accepting.
"To have this tragedy happen in our region ... it's been very difficult trying to make sense of it."
The community has thrown its arms around Pheobe's family, with floral tributes laid outside the property she shared with Wood and Bromley.
A candlelight vigil has been organised on Sunday where locals will pay tribute to the beloved teen.
"We now need to come together as a community, support and care for one another as we try to move forward," Cr Blackburn 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.
Police allege Wood and Bromley drove Pheobe close to the airport but no one got out of the car.
Cr Blackburn said it had been "heart-wrenching" after locals had held on to hope for weeks.
The Gin Gin community had rallied around the missing teen's family during the search with a Leave the Lights On for Pheobe campaign.
Some posted photos on social media of their front lights switched on "to guide Pheobe home".
Wood and Bromley have been remanded in custody ahead of their next Bundaberg Magistrates Court appearance on August 11.
Police will continue to comb unforgiving terrain where the remains of a missing teenager were found as they attempt to recover a key item to their murder investigation, her luggage.
James Wood, 34, and Tanika Bromley, 33, were charged three weeks to the day after 17-year-old Pheobe Bishop missed a flight and vanished in southern Queensland.
Officers discovered what are believed to be the teenager's remains about 2.30pm on Friday near Good Night Scrub National Park, about 280km northeast of Brisbane and nine kilometres from the original search site.
Police allege Wood and Bromley moved Pheobe's body a number of times.
Detective Inspector Craig Mansfield revealed on Saturday that the remains were not buried but did not give specifics of the scene.
"The remains were found in bushland ... coupled with snippets of information and telecommunications data; that's allowed us to find this location," he said.
"It's an unforgiving terrain."
Detectives have set up a crime scene and continue to appeal for further information.
Insp Mansfield confirmed the 17-year-old's luggage had not been located.
He said forensic searches of a home in Gin Gin, where the girl lived, had not identified anything significant.
"However that scene is complex, we are still waiting on a number of forensic results to come back from that examination," Insp Mansfield said.
Officers have been in contact with Pheobe's family, with her mother Kylie Johnson quick to share her grief on social media.
"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.
Wood and Bromley were housemates with Pheobe on the property at Gin Gin, a quiet regional community near Bundaberg left reeling from the tragedy.
"There is a sense of 'this wouldn't happen here'," Bundaberg Mayor Helen Blackburn told AAP.
"We believe our community to be kind and accepting.
"To have this tragedy happen in our region ... it's been very difficult trying to make sense of it."
The community has thrown its arms around Pheobe's family, with floral tributes laid outside the property she shared with Wood and Bromley.
A candlelight vigil has been organised on Sunday where locals will pay tribute to the beloved teen.
"We now need to come together as a community, support and care for one another as we try to move forward," Cr Blackburn 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.
Police allege Wood and Bromley drove Pheobe close to the airport but no one got out of the car.
Cr Blackburn said it had been "heart-wrenching" after locals had held on to hope for weeks.
The Gin Gin community had rallied around the missing teen's family during the search with a Leave the Lights On for Pheobe campaign.
Some posted photos on social media of their front lights switched on "to guide Pheobe home".
Wood and Bromley have been remanded in custody ahead of their next Bundaberg Magistrates Court appearance on August 11.
Police will continue to comb unforgiving terrain where the remains of a missing teenager were found as they attempt to recover a key item to their murder investigation, her luggage.
James Wood, 34, and Tanika Bromley, 33, were charged three weeks to the day after 17-year-old Pheobe Bishop missed a flight and vanished in southern Queensland.
Officers discovered what are believed to be the teenager's remains about 2.30pm on Friday near Good Night Scrub National Park, about 280km northeast of Brisbane and nine kilometres from the original search site.
Police allege Wood and Bromley moved Pheobe's body a number of times.
Detective Inspector Craig Mansfield revealed on Saturday that the remains were not buried but did not give specifics of the scene.
"The remains were found in bushland ... coupled with snippets of information and telecommunications data; that's allowed us to find this location," he said.
"It's an unforgiving terrain."
Detectives have set up a crime scene and continue to appeal for further information.
Insp Mansfield confirmed the 17-year-old's luggage had not been located.
He said forensic searches of a home in Gin Gin, where the girl lived, had not identified anything significant.
"However that scene is complex, we are still waiting on a number of forensic results to come back from that examination," Insp Mansfield said.
Officers have been in contact with Pheobe's family, with her mother Kylie Johnson quick to share her grief on social media.
"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.
Wood and Bromley were housemates with Pheobe on the property at Gin Gin, a quiet regional community near Bundaberg left reeling from the tragedy.
"There is a sense of 'this wouldn't happen here'," Bundaberg Mayor Helen Blackburn told AAP.
"We believe our community to be kind and accepting.
"To have this tragedy happen in our region ... it's been very difficult trying to make sense of it."
The community has thrown its arms around Pheobe's family, with floral tributes laid outside the property she shared with Wood and Bromley.
A candlelight vigil has been organised on Sunday where locals will pay tribute to the beloved teen.
"We now need to come together as a community, support and care for one another as we try to move forward," Cr Blackburn 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.
Police allege Wood and Bromley drove Pheobe close to the airport but no one got out of the car.
Cr Blackburn said it had been "heart-wrenching" after locals had held on to hope for weeks.
The Gin Gin community had rallied around the missing teen's family during the search with a Leave the Lights On for Pheobe campaign.
Some posted photos on social media of their front lights switched on "to guide Pheobe home".
Wood and Bromley have been remanded in custody ahead of their next Bundaberg Magistrates Court appearance on August 11.
Police will continue to comb unforgiving terrain where the remains of a missing teenager were found as they attempt to recover a key item to their murder investigation, her luggage.
James Wood, 34, and Tanika Bromley, 33, were charged three weeks to the day after 17-year-old Pheobe Bishop missed a flight and vanished in southern Queensland.
Officers discovered what are believed to be the teenager's remains about 2.30pm on Friday near Good Night Scrub National Park, about 280km northeast of Brisbane and nine kilometres from the original search site.
Police allege Wood and Bromley moved Pheobe's body a number of times.
Detective Inspector Craig Mansfield revealed on Saturday that the remains were not buried but did not give specifics of the scene.
"The remains were found in bushland ... coupled with snippets of information and telecommunications data; that's allowed us to find this location," he said.
"It's an unforgiving terrain."
Detectives have set up a crime scene and continue to appeal for further information.
Insp Mansfield confirmed the 17-year-old's luggage had not been located.
He said forensic searches of a home in Gin Gin, where the girl lived, had not identified anything significant.
"However that scene is complex, we are still waiting on a number of forensic results to come back from that examination," Insp Mansfield said.
Officers have been in contact with Pheobe's family, with her mother Kylie Johnson quick to share her grief on social media.
"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.
Wood and Bromley were housemates with Pheobe on the property at Gin Gin, a quiet regional community near Bundaberg left reeling from the tragedy.
"There is a sense of 'this wouldn't happen here'," Bundaberg Mayor Helen Blackburn told AAP.
"We believe our community to be kind and accepting.
"To have this tragedy happen in our region ... it's been very difficult trying to make sense of it."
The community has thrown its arms around Pheobe's family, with floral tributes laid outside the property she shared with Wood and Bromley.
A candlelight vigil has been organised on Sunday where locals will pay tribute to the beloved teen.
"We now need to come together as a community, support and care for one another as we try to move forward," Cr Blackburn 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.
Police allege Wood and Bromley drove Pheobe close to the airport but no one got out of the car.
Cr Blackburn said it had been "heart-wrenching" after locals had held on to hope for weeks.
The Gin Gin community had rallied around the missing teen's family during the search with a Leave the Lights On for Pheobe campaign.
Some posted photos on social media of their front lights switched on "to guide Pheobe home".
Wood and Bromley have been remanded in custody ahead of their next Bundaberg Magistrates Court appearance on August 11.