Police suspend search for missing teenager Pheobe Bishop in Gin Gin bushland
The search for missing teenager Pheobe Bishop has been suspended.
Police had been searching a dense patch of bushland in the Good Night Scrub National Park over several days for clues about the 17-year-old Bundaberg local's disappearance.
Bishop was last seen at about 8.30am on May 15 at Airport Dr in Bundaberg. The teenager was planning to fly to Perth to spend time with a boyfriend, but never made it to the airport.
Police confirmed on Wednesday morning that the search for Bishop has been suspended in the Good Night area.
'Investigations are ongoing and police are continuing to run out several lines of enquiry,' they said.
'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.'
Firefighters, SES crews and specialist police, including police divers, had been searching remote areas, deploying drones to scan dense scrub and creek beds.
Cadaver dogs were deployed by police, and forensics teams in blue dust suits were seen bagging items of interest during the search.
Firearms in car
In a seperate incident, Bishop's flatmate was granted bail this week after police allegedly found guns inside a car that was searched by detectives investigating her disappearance.
Police charged Bishop's 33-year-old housemate after allegedly finding a firearm and two replica handguns in her car.
Bail conditions now ban the woman from contacting her boyfriend, also a housemate of Bishops.
Detective Acting Inspector Ryan Thompson told media on Tuesday, that a vehicle of interest, a grey Hyundai ix35, had been seized, and had since been released by police.
'The vehicle was seized by police and 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,' he said.
After being asked about allegations the cars number plates had been seen altered with black electrical tape, obscuring the vehicle's registration, he said: 'Police are aware of the that. We are following up an investigation in relation to that.'
In a new post written by Bishop's mother, Kylie Johnson, she described the struggles of not knowing what has happened to her daughter.
'Finding it hard to get out of bed today, to find the strength to put one foot in front of the other and know what to do, what to think or what to say,' she said.
'People have judgements, accusations and continue say untruths. I'm not going to correct you or be investing what little strength I have to be correcting these statements or people.
'We as a family are just trying to go through the motions of waiting for Phee to come home.'
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SBS Australia
7 hours ago
- SBS Australia
Pheobe Bishop's body found, police say, after housemates face court on murder charges
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. "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 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. "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 11 August. 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.
ABC News
11 hours ago
- ABC News
Remains found in search for missing Queensland teenager Pheobe Bishop
Police say they have found what is believed to be human remains in the search for missing Queensland teenager Pheobe Bishop. Queensland Police said the discovery was made on Friday afternoon near Good Night Scrub National Park near Gin Gin. The 17-year-old has been missing since May 15. James Wood, 34, and Tanika Bromley, 33, were charged with one count each of murder, and two counts each of interfering with a corpse on Thursday. "The brief search commenced after further enquires and investigations today, with the discovery being made by specialist units around 2:30pm," police said in a statement. "The remains are yet to be formally identified; however, investigators are in contact with the family of missing 17-year-old Pheobe Bishop." A crime scene has been declared at the location and forensic examinations are continuing. Police are continuing to appeal for any information in relation to Pheobe Bishop or the movement of a grey Hyundai IX35 between May 15 to 18 in the greater Gin Gin area.
Perth Now
15 hours ago
- Perth Now
WATCH: Moment Pheobe Bishop's alleged killer is arrested
Queensland police have released footage that shows the moment detectives told Pheobe Bishop's housemate he was being charged with her alleged murder. James Wood, 34, was arrested in Bundaberg at 7.20pm on Thursday night — three weeks to the day after Pheobe, 17, went missing. Mr Wood's partner Tanika Bromley, 33 — who also lived in the rundown Gin Gin property with Pheobe — was also arrested on Thursday. Both are facing one count each of murder and two counts each of interfering with a corpse. Police on Thursday alleged that Pheobe's body was moved on 'more than one occasion'. And they released body camera footage showing the moment Mr Wood was arrested and told he was being charged with Pheobe's murder. James Wood has been charged with one count of murder and two counts of interfering with a corpse. Credit: Unknown / Supplied The video shows Mr Wood, dressed in grey tracksuit pants and a tight-fitting T-shirt, being escorted from a caravan littered with mess and being taken outside. 'Just listen to me,' one of the detectives can be heard saying in the video, before identifying themselves as a detective-sergeant from Bundaberg police. 'I'm placing you under arrest for the homicide of Pheobe Bishop,' he says. The footage then shows Mr Wood in the back seat of a police car before the door is closed. Pheobe's sister Kaylea made an impassioned plea outside of the Bundaberg Magistrates Court on Thursday after Mr Wood and Ms Bromley had their first mentions. She told reporters her sister was 'loved and missed' and pleaded for anyone with information about her body — which has not been found — to come forward. 'I don't know what to say, but if you've got any information about Pheobe, or the car or anything like that, just come forward,' Kaylea said. 'Three weeks is too long for us, as a family and all of her friends. 'We just want her home. She was loved and she's missed dearly.' Tanika Bromley has been charged with one count of murder and two counts of interfering with a corpse. Credit: Unknown / Supplied Pheobe was last seen by the housemates, who told police they were driving her to Bundaberg Airport from their home in Gin Gin in Ms Bromley's grey Hyundai ix35 on May 15. The teenager had intended to fly from Bundaberg to Brisbane, then on to Perth to see her boyfriend. She never boarded the flight.
