Missing teen’s housemates moved body twice: police
The housemates of Pheobe Bishop allegedly murdered the missing teen before moving her body from a national park, police say.
James Wood, 34, and Tanika Bromley, 33, will face Bundaberg Magistrates Court in southern Queensland on Friday charged with 17-year-old Pheobe’s murder.
Wood and Bromley were arrested on Thursday night, 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.
The charges marked three weeks to the day after 17-year-old Pheobe failed to check in for a flight at Bundaberg airport on May 15.
“The remains of Pheobe Bishop have not been located to date,” Queensland Police said late on Thursday.
“Detectives continue to investigate this matter, and physical searches will continue as needed as information is provided.
“Both the man and the woman were arrested tonight in the Bundaberg area.”
They will appear in Bundaberg Magistrates Court on Friday.
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James Wood, 34, and Tanika Bromley, 33, were arrested on Thursday night. Photo: Supplied
Pheobe’s mother Kylie Johnson said on Thursday night her family had been “shattered”.
Johnson has posted on social media almost daily 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.”
Kylie Johnson pleads for information on her missing daughter. Photo: AAP
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 went into the airport terminal.
The search for Pheobe was scaled back on Wednesday after police had spent weeks combing several areas of interest in southern Queensland.
One was a property in Gin Gin where Pheobe had lived with Wood and Bromley.
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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. Homicide detectives, cadaver dogs and divers were called in.
Some items believed to be linked to the investigation were seized for examination.
The search revealed evidence might have been moved from the park before police arrived.
Police searched a national park near Gin Gin. Photo: AAP
Wood and Bromley were earlier charged with unrelated weapons offences.
The heartbreaking toll of Pheobe’s disappearance had been documented by Johnson’s social media posts as her family held onto hope.
Her mother shared her daughter’s many affectionate nicknames — Phee Phee, Nanny McPhee, Auntie Nanny, Nanny and our Flea Flea.
“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,” Johnson posted on Wednesday.
She said her heart was holding on to “every little memory and hope that you come home to us Phee Phee”.
“The little internal family jokes, the little digs at your siblings and the love that you all unconditionally shared.
“The fierceness of that was beyond beautiful and unique.
“Your sibling bond is deep, meaningful and makes my heart so happy.
“The emotional connection, love and friendship has always been unmatched and unquestioned.”
Police will provide more details in Bundaberg from 9am Friday.
