After an extensive search, human remains believed to be those of Pheobe Bishop were located in a remote bushland area infested with dangerous dogs and feral pigs.
Daily Mail Australia can reveal an undertaker collected the remains from the Good Night Scrub National Park on Saturday night.
Although the discovery was made at 2.30 pm on a Friday, the retrieval process faced delays of over a day due to the presence of hazardous wildlife in the vicinity.
Queensland Police remained at the scene on Sunday morning, sweeping the region for any remaining clues over the 17-year-old’s tragic death.
The site where the body was found is approximately an hour away from Pheobe’s hometown of Gin Gin, near Bundaberg in central Queensland. She resided there with Tanika Bromley and James Wood. This location is also 9km from where authorities previously uncovered ‘items of interest’ the week before.
Pheobe’s housemates have both been charged with her murder, along with two counts of interfering with a corpse, and are in police custody.
Wide Bay-Burnett Detective Inspector Craig Mansfield revealed on Saturday police had yet to locate luggage and a phone belonging to Pheobe.
Pheobe’s distraught mother Kylie Johnson last night thanked Bundaberg Police and the State Emergency Service for their efforts in locating her daughter.
Pheobe’s distraught mother Kylie Johnson (left) last night thanked Bundaberg Police and the State Emergency Service for their efforts in locating her daughter
Human remains were found at Good Night Scrub National Park on Friday afternoon
‘These guys have literally been on their hands and knees to find our baby and get her home to us,’ she said.
‘I will honestly never be able to repay them for what they have done for my family and Pheobe.
‘They have worked 24 hour days since Pheobe went missing and they won’t stop until she’s home.’
The development comes as family and friends prepare to honour Pheobe’s life this evening at a candlelight vigil in Gin Gin from 4pm.
The community is encouraged to wear bright colours and butterflies, and bring a candle.
A family friend yesterday launched a GoFundMe in the teenager’s memory, with proceeds going to the SES and Y Schools Bundaberg, which Pheobe attended.
It has so far raised almost $5,000.
On Friday, Pheobe’s older sister, Kaylea, 18, 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.
Tributes have been left outside the Gin Gin home Pheobe had been living in
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.’
It comes as the house where Pheobe lived has been turned into a shrine.
A makeshift memorial has appeared at the ramshackle, rubbish-strewn Gin Gin home Pheobe shared with Bromley and Wood.
A large pink teddy bear stood guard over the property, surrounded with bouquets of flowers.
A poignant message left by one mourner read: ‘Pheobe, you grew your wings too early beautiful girl. Now, you will no longer feel pain or heartache.
‘You can spread your wings, and know you will be loved.’
The house has been extensively searched by forensics since Pheobe was reported missing.
