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Police have confirmed human remains were found in the search for missing teenager Pheobe Bishop, as a tightly-knit Queensland community rallies around her family.
On Friday, Queensland Police said in a statement that what were believed to be human remains had been located near Good Night Scrub National Park around 2:30pm.
A crime scene was declared at the area near Gin Gin in Bundaberg, and police were in contact with the 17-year-old’s family.
Speaking to reporters on Saturday morning, Detective Inspector Craig Mansfield said the remains had been tested and “identified as being human remains”.
“We have been in contact with Pheobe’s family and advised them of this development. Understandably, this has caused great distress to them,” he said.
Pheobe Bishop — a 17-year-old from Gin Gin, north of Brisbane — had not been seen or heard from since 15 May. Source: Supplied / Queensland Police
Mansfield said further testing and examination will occur, with the view of formally identifying the remains, and supporting Queensland Police’s brief of evidence to date.
“We always wanted to bring Pheobe home, and we believe that this is the first step in that process.”
The development follows the arrest of Pheobe’s housemates — James Wood, 34, and Tanika Bromley, 33. The pair were both charged with one count of murder and two counts of interfering with a corpse, and were remanded in custody.
Pheobe’s sister, Kaylea Bishop, was surrounded by supporters at Bundaberg Magistrates Court where Wood and Bromley’s matter was mentioned on Friday.
Pheobe was last seen near Bundaberg airport about 8.30am on 15 May 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.
Speaking on Saturday, Mansfield said the area where human remains were found was an extension “not too far” from the original search area.
“We are engaging with legal representatives from both of those accused,” he said.
“Coupled with snippets of information and also telecommunications data, that’s allowed us to find this location independently.”
‘We now need to come together as a community’
The community has thrown its arms around Pheobe’s family, with floral tributes laid outside the Gin Gin property she shared with Wood and Bromley.
A candlelight vigil has been organised on Sunday where locals will pay tribute to the beloved teen.
Bundaberg Mayor Helen Blackburn described a “sense of ‘this wouldn’t happene here'”.
“”We believe our community to be kind and accepting,” she told the Australian Associated Press.
“To have this tragedy happen in our region … it’s been very difficult trying to make sense of it.”
“We now need to come together as a community, support and care for one another as we try to move forward.”
— With additional reporting by the Australian Associated Press.
