Pheobe Bishop vanished after she failed to check-in for a flight to see her boyfriend – several worrying developments have come out during the 15 days she has been missing
Shocking new claims have emerged in the desperate hunt for missing Australian teen Pheobe Bishop, 17, who vanished on her way to the airport.
She was last seen leaving her home in Gin Gin, Queensland, on May 15, to head to the airport but she mysteriously never made it onto her flight. She had been due to board a flight to Brisbane and then continue on to Peth, where she planned to meet her boyfriend. Pheobe had been living with a couple – Tanika Bromley and James Wood – at the time of her disappearance. Shocking new claims about the teen have since been revealed.
Police said Pheobe was due to board an 8.30am flight on the day she was last seen, and have suggested the couple she lived with drove her to Bundaberg Airport – but it is not known if she was dropped off. It is also not clear why the teen was living with the pair. They were questioned by police and charged with unrelated weapons offences.
Police have not charged any people in relation to Pheobe’s disappearance and it is not suggested the couple were involved. Cops have sealed off their house, where the teen had spent recent weeks, as forensic investigators search through the property.
Several worrying developments in the 17-year-old’s missing persons case have emerged as this search enters its 15th day…
Worrying last phone call
Pheobe’s heartbroken boyfriend, who was meant to meet the teen at Perth Airport, shared the concerning final call he heard from his girlfriend before she vanished. He said Pheobe rang him while she was being driven to the airport on the morning of May 15.
Her high school sweetheart said he was unable to hear anything on the other end before the call cut off. Despite this, he didn’t think anything of it and went to Perth Airport to wait at the terminal for her but she did not arrive. Queensland Police are reportedly “quite confident” Pheobe didn’t make it to Bundaberg Airport because she did not check-in to her flight.
Key CCTV footage
A car, similar to that Pheobe was driven in before she vanished, was caught on CCTV after she was meant to be on her flight. A grey Hyundai ix35 was spotted driving through Gin Gin at 10.30am the day she was last seen.
Cops have since seized a grey Hyundai ix35, owned by Wood, and have declared it a crime scene. The couple told detectives they gave Pheobe a lift to the airport that morning.
Shock weapons twist
Police discovered weapons inside Bromley’s SUV. Detectives said these gun offences were “unrelated” but they have not completely ruled out possible links with the disappearance.
Bromley had already been on bail for other weapons offences after a sawed-off shotgun and flick knife were found in her car, back in February. Police confirmed Wood was charged with an unrelated weapon offence on Sunday.
Police said: “Police have charged a man with weapons offences, after police allegedly located a shortened firearm and ammunition during a search of a grey Hyundai ix35 and a Gin Gin home, both of which had been declared crime scenes for an unrelated matter.”
Worrying messages Pheobe sent to friend
Pheobe told a friend days before she vanished that she had “been better” in concerning messages. The 17-year-old also told the pal, who was checking in, about her plans to go to Perth.
The teen wrote: “I’ve been better but I focus on the good s***. I take of (sic) to WA in three days! Get out of this s**t home for a bit so that will be good, just packing atm.”
When asked how long she would be away for, Pheobe wrote: “10 days beautiful x”
Concerning family comments
Although it was not exactly clear why the teen has been living with the couple, social media posts she made before her disappearance suggested Pheobe has fallen out with her mum. Despite this, mum Kylie Johnson released a statement after her disappearance and said this was out of character for her daughter.
She said: “Pheobe would never not touch base with the people she loves. She would never go this long without contacting someone or anyone.”
Kylie’s sister, and Pheobe’s aunt, Caz Johnson, however hit out at the mum and claimed the 17-year-old sent messages out of the blue on April 26. The messages from Pheobe said: “Up s*** creek but s*** happens.” She added: “I’m flying the f*** out of here to see my boyfriend…If it goes to plan I’m not coming back. I can’t do s*** anymore. I need to get out of this hell hole.”