Latest news with #KayleaBishop
ABC News
3 hours ago
- ABC News
Bundaberg twilight vigil draws hundreds remembering 17-year-old Pheobe Bishop
As the sun set tonight, hundreds of twinkling candle lights flickered like stars in a community park at Bundaberg in regional Queensland. Teens in school uniform, families with young children, workers on their way home — hundreds of people sat in quiet reflection to mourn the loss of 17-year-old Pheobe Bishop. The twilight vigil comes more than three weeks after the teen captured the nation's attention when she disappeared on May 15 from Bundaberg, 350 kilometres north of Brisbane. The evening was not about her tragic end — allegedly murdered by her housemates — but about gratitude for the community's support and remembering the daughter and sister her family knew. Sister Kaylea Bishop held back tears as she described Pheobe and her wish to see her again. "Love every minute, just cherish it. "Love the good and the bad, worship it all, capture the memories." Kaylea said Pheobe's name will always be spoken in their family. "She will never die within us, she will always live on," she said. Community leaders introduced loved ones who shared stories about Pheobe, read poems and played some of her favourite songs. Messages written on brightly-coloured paper filled a jar to honour Pheobe's memory before the gathering heard from Pheobe's mother, Kylie Johnson. Ms Johnson said her daughter was "perfectly uniquely herself". "Phee was more than glorious. She was compassionate, she was caring, she was resilient, she was relentless," she said. "We will put her to rest, we will say goodbye to her in a way that celebrates her life." Ms Johnson also spoke about how harrowing the past three weeks had been. Monday's vigil was the second held for Pheobe following one on Sunday evening in her home town of Gin Gin, 50 kilometres west of Bundaberg. Pheobe first went missing more than three weeks ago on May 15. On Friday, police discovered human remains in thick bushland more than an hour south-west of Bundaberg at Good Night Scrub National Park. Police have yet to make a formal identification. Pheobe's housemates, 34-year-old James Woods and 33-year-old Tanika Bromley, have been charged with her murder. The matter will be mentioned in court in August. Police have alleged Pheobe was last seen alive with Mr Wood and Ms Bromley on their way towards Bundaberg Airport. Memorials have been established near the Bundaberg Airport and outside the house Ms Bishop shared with the accused in Gin Gin.
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Daily Mail
Phoebe Bishop's big sister shares a very strange request for mourners as hundreds come together in Gin Gin for a moving vigil
A moving vigil in memory of slain teenager Pheobe Bishop has drawn a crowd of hundreds, with a speech from her charismatic sister urging those attendance to dance. The community held a candlelight vigil at Kolan Community Park between 4pm and 6pm on Sunday with about 500 mourners wearing bright colours and butterflies. A second candlelight vigil will be held at Buss Park in nearby Bundaberg on Monday from 5pm. 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, with investigators aiming to also recover the teenager's missing luggage 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, three weeks to the day after she missed a flight and vanished. Prosecutors allege the pair moved Pheobe's more than once. At the end of the Sunday's vigil, Pheobe's sister Kaylea, 18, dedicated a One Republic song to the teen and said, 'Please stand up and dance, because you know that's what this b****h (Pheobe) would do!' The family immediately broke out dancing and cheering in a moment those in attendance described as incredibly moving. More to follow.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE The four-word text that sparked a tragic hunt for missing teen Pheobe Bishop - as her housemates are now charged with her murder
The hunt for missing teen Pheobe Bishop was triggered by a frantic text from her sister to the last-known people to see her alive, Daily Mail Australia can reveal. Pheobe's housemates James Wood and Tanika Bromley have now been charged with the 17-year-old's murder and two counts each of interfering with her corpse. She vanished on May 15 after leaving the ramshackle home in Gin Gin, near Bundaberg in central Queensland, that she shared with Wood and Bromley. They told police they had given her an early morning lift to Bundaberg Airport to board a plane on a trip to see her boyfriend in Perth. But Pheobe never made it to check in, and her older sister Kaylea, 18, triggered the search when the family was alerted Pheobe had never arrived in Western Australia. In an text to Wood and Bromley on May 16, Kaylea demanded to know: 'Where is my sister?' Three weeks later detectives have accused the housemates of Pheobe's murder, and on Friday notified the family they had found human remains. Just hours earlier Kaylea 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.' Kaylea and Pheobe had a close relationship and had been planning to move out of the family home and into a house together last year. On Friday, the girls' mother Kylie Johnson paid tribute to Kaylea for facing the media to speak up for her allegedly murdered sister. 'Kaylea your strength, determination and dedication to bring Phee Phee home is such a reflection of your fierce love for your sister,' Ms Johnson posted on Facebook. 'Pheobe would be so proud of the way you handled yourself today just as we are. We WILL bring Phee home - I don't care how long it takes but we will get her home.' After the remains were found she posted again, saying: '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.' Pheobe was last seen on May 15 leaving the Gin Gin home, near Bundaberg in central Queensland, where she was living with Wood, 34, and Bromley, 33. The couple allegedly drove Pheobe to Bundaberg Airport at 8.30am for a flight to Brisbane and then on to Perth, where she planned to meet up with her boyfriend. She never got on the plane and Detective Inspect Craig Mansfield told reporters on Friday that, as the investigation progressed, all hope was lost of finding Pheobe alive. 'Our evidence will outline the fact that three people arrived near to the airport and three people never exited that vehicle,' he told reporters on Friday. 'Our investigation will detail the facts that we believe Pheobe was murdered and then her body was moved. 'We will allege that Pheobe was moved more than one occasion.' Pheobe had been living with the couple prior to her disappearance on May 15. The couple were arrested in Bundaberg on Thursday night and were each charged with one count of murder and two counts of interfering with a corpse. They remain in custody and were due to front Bundaberg Magistrates Court on Friday morning but did not appear via video link. The arrests came after Wood was initially arrested on Wednesday and then released without charge. The arrests came after James Wood (pictured) was initially arrested on Wednesday and then released without charge Police towed Wood's SUV which he had 'effectively been living out of it from time to time' for forensic examination The search for Pheobe had been scaled back on Wednesday after police spent weeks combing several areas of interest. They included the property in Gin Gin where Pheobe lived with Wood and Bromley and a grey Hyundai ix35, thought to have been used to take the teen to the airport. Det. Insp. Mansfield told reporters while he could not speculate on motive, he said police have 'information that would suggest some form of motivation'. Police have also towed Wood's SUV which he had 'effectively been living out of it from time to time' for forensic examination on Thursday night.
SBS Australia
3 days 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.
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Pheobe Bishop's lookalike sister issues devastating message to Australia outside courthouse as teen's housemates were accused of her murder and 'interfering with her corpse'
Pheobe Bishop's older sister has tearfully pleaded for information that will bring the missing teenager's remains home as cops revealed they believe her body was moved multiple times after she was allegedly murdered. Kaylea Bishop, 18, attended Bundaberg Magistrates Court on Friday, dressed in black with her eyes red, where Pheobe's housemates James Wood and Tanika Bromley were due to appear accused of Pheobe's murder 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. Kaylea walked outside to the waiting media and gave a tearful statement. 'We just want her home,' she said. '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.' Kaylea and Pheobe had a close relationship and had been planning to move out of the family home and into a house together last year. Queensland Police have been searching a 'vast area with unforgiving terrain' in central Queensland for the 17-year-old's remains. Pheobe was last seen on May 15 leaving the Gin Gin home, near Bundaberg in central Queensland, where she was living with Wood, 34, and Bromley, 33. The couple allegedly drove Pheobe to Bundaberg Airport for an 8.30am flight to Brisbane and then on to Perth, where she planned to meet up with her boyfriend. She never got on the plane and Detective Inspect Craig Mansfield told reporters on Friday that, as the investigation progressed, hope of finding Pheobe alive became unviable. 'Our evidence will outline the fact that three people arrived near to the airport and three people never exited that vehicle,' he told reporters on Friday. 'Our investigation will detail the facts that we believe Phoebe was murdered and then her body was moved. 'We will allege that Phoebe was moved more than one occasion.' Pheobe had been living with the couple prior to her disappearance on May 15. The couple were arrested in Bundaberg on Thursday night and were each charged with one count of murder and two counts of interfering with a corpse. They remain in custody and were due to front Bundaberg Magistrates Court on Friday morning but did not appear via video link. The arrests came after Wood was initially arrested on Wednesday and then released without charge. The search for Pheobe had been scaled back on Wednesday after police spent weeks combing several areas of interest. They included the property in Gin Gin where Pheobe lived with Wood and Bromley and a grey Hyundai ix35, thought to have been used to take the teen to the airport. Pheobe's remains have not been found and her luggage has not been seen since she disappeared. Det. Insp. Mansfield said officers are hoping to engage with Wood and Bromley's lawyers 'in the near future' regarding any information on where Pheobe might be. He said the weeks-long investigation has led police, through telephone data, to focus on the area around Good Night Scrub National Park. The search had initially focused on the area with homicide detectives, cadaver dogs and divers called in to aid the 100-strong effort. While Kaylea sat in court with friends, family and a court guard, there was no appearance from Wood or Bromley during the session Police have also towed Wood's SUV which he had 'effectively been living out of it from time to time' for forensic examination on Thursday night. The search initially focused on Good Night Scrub National Park with homicide detectives, cadaver dogs and divers called in. Some items believed to be linked to the investigation were seized for forensic examination. 'We have had some great support with the community, with some areas that may be of interest,' Det. Insp. Mandsfield said. 'But we're really hoping that we will get some more specific information that will help us find Pheobe.' Anyone with information regarding Pheobe's disappearance is urged to call Crime Stoppers.
