COPS reveal what led them to discover human remains believed to be those of 17-year-old Pheobe Bishop, who disappeared over three weeks ago.
Investigators were steered to the crime scene – five miles from their initial search area – by a family tracking app on Pheobe’s phone.
The remains were discovered at 2.30pm on Friday in remote bushland, according to Queensland Detective Inspector Craig Mansfield.
Police believe they were not buried.
Mansfield explained the remains still need to be formally identified and “as a result, a crime scene is still established there at the moment”.
He added: “Our forensic capabilities will hopefully be finished there today.
“The area is in an unforgiving terrain, so it may take some time to finish that examination.”
According to Daily Mail Australia, the retrieval of the remains has experienced a setback of more than 24 hours. This delay has been attributed to the presence of hazardous wildlife in the area, such as feral pigs and dogs, which are known to roam the vicinity.
The teen’s travel luggage and phone have not been found, police say.
Pheobe was last seen near Bundaberg Airport in southern Queensland at around 8.30am on May 15.
The initial plan was for her to board a flight to Brisbane en route to Perth to visit her long-time boyfriend, referred to as her “high-school sweetheart.” However, investigations utilizing CCTV footage revealed that there was no record of her entering the airport as intended.
Pheobe’s two housemates James Wood and Tanika Bromley were charged with murder on Thursday, along with two counts of interfering with a corpse.
Daily Mail Australia further reports that the collection of the remains took place on Saturday evening at the Good Night Scrub National Park. Law enforcement officers continued to be present at the site into Sunday morning as part of the ongoing investigation.
The is around an hour from Pheobe’s hometown of Gin Gin, near Bundaberg in central Queensland, where she shared a house with Wood and Bromley.
Mansfield said: “We have been in contact with Pheobe’s family to advise them of this development.
“Understandably, this caused great distress to them, however they’re supportive of the information that they’ve been receiving along the way.”
Pheobe’s mum Kylie Johnson thanked police on Saturday for their efforts in finding her daughter.
“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.”
On Friday, the mum made a heartbreaking statement on social media after receiving the news.
She said: “I didn’t think my heart could break anymore than it did when you went missing, or when the charges were laid but this.
“This is ripping me apart.”
Pheobe’s sister Kaylea Bishop said the teen was “loved and missed” dearly.
As she stood outside Bundaberg Magistrates Court, where Wood and Bromley’s murder charges were heard on Friday morning, she begged for help finding her sister’s body.
A candlelight vigil will take place in Gin Gin at 4pm today to honour the teen, Daily Mail reports.
People attending the vigil have reportedly been encouraged to wear bright colours and butterflies.
Wood and Bromley will return to court on August 11.
Pheobe Bishop timeline
by Harvey Geh
May 14: Pheobe Bishop’s last known bank transaction takes place.
May 15: Pheobe is reportedly dropped off near Bundaberg Airport’s terminal by her housemates, James Wood and Tanika Bromley, in order to catch a flight to Brisbane and then to Perth to visit her boyfriend.
May 15, 8:30am: Pheobe makes a final phone call to her boyfriend before her scheduled flight. Her phone is then switched off and has remained inactive since.
May 15, post-8:30am: Pheobe fails to check in for her flight. CCTV footage confirms she did not enter the airport terminal.
May 16: Family and police initiate search efforts. Pheobe’s social media accounts show no activity during this period.
May 21: Police declare Pheobe’s disappearance as suspicious.
May 24: Nine days after disappearing, Pheobe’s distressed mum pleads the public for information. She says she is “absolutely begging anyone with any information to contact the Queensland Police Service”.
May 25: The search effort is widened to cover more area and homicide officers are brought in to help.
June 4: Police call off the “physical search for Pheobe, who has now been missing for three weeks.
June 5: Bromley and Wood are both arrested and charged with one count of murder and two counts of interfering with a corpse
June 6, 2:30pm: Police find human remains near the area Pheobe was last seen.
June 7: Police carry out forensic testing at the crime scene to formally identify the remains.
