Pheobe Bishop: Mother of missing teen allegedly murdered in Queensland reveals she had a disability

Pheobe Bishop’s mother has revealed her daughter lived with a disability as she hit out at rumours swirling around the small Queensland town where she grew up.

Kylie Johnson made the surprise disclosure in an emotional Facebook post, hitting out at those people fuelling misinformation about her disability support business.

Before she disappeared on May 15, Pheobe had been living out of the family home in squalid conditions with two housemates who have since been charged with her murder.

Tanika Bromley, 33, and James Wood, 34, were arrested last week after an extensive search, three weeks after the 17-year-old vanished.

Remains believed to be those of Pheobe were found on June 6 in the Good Night Scrub National Park near Gin Gin.

Adding to the family’s burden as they grieve Pheobe’s loss, have been rumours that Ms Johnson’s business, disability support provider Smiley’s Support Service, was closing.

In a Facebook post, Ms Johnson has reassured clients this was not the case.

“Imagine people from your own industry using this tragedy to benefit themselves?? After 23 years of working between the disability and aged care sector I’m actually pretty disappointed,” she wrote.

Ms Bromley was a carer employed by Ms Johnson’s service until she was made redundant last year, the Daily Mail reports.

Contrary to some of the more damaging rumours, Ms Johnson said her company had NDIS approval and passed a 2024 audit.

“Team Smiley’s won’t let the bullies and trolls WIN and even though I’m not there at the moment, this company has an amazing team that continues to go above and beyond for everyone.”

“Your disability only defines you if you allow it to and Phee never let hers define her.”

Ms Johnson did not reveal what Pheobe’s disability was but in an earlier post said the teenager did not fit the mainstream schooling model.

Instead, they had found an alternative in Bundaberg called the Y School, which claims to provide a learning environment tailored to meet students’ “diverse needs”.

On its website, the Y School says it “provides adjusted educational programs for secondary students who would benefit from an alternative learning environment and a high degree of wrap around wellbeing support.”

“Phee Phee didn’t fit the mainstream school model,” Ms Johnson wrote.

“Like most young people it was too much for her and we needed to find an alternative learning approach for our Girl. The Y School in Bundaberg was that fit, she thrived, she was supported and felt a sense of belonging with her peers. She was so god dam excited to be in a place that actually accepted her.”

A GoFundMe set up in Pheobe’s memory will donate the money raised to the Y School and also to volunteer services such as the SES, whose members were integral in the search for the teenager during the three weeks she was missing.

Set up by family friend Tracey Berends, the fundraiser had raised $7300 at the time of publication.

“Pheobe had a gentle soul and a generous spirit—always caring for others and standing up for what was right. We want her legacy to live on and by paying it forward to the amazing volunteers and community, “ Ms Berends wrote to support the fundraiser.

“All funds raised will be donated to these carefully chosen community groups that work to support our Wide Bay community.

“This is more than a fundraiser—this is a tribute to a beautiful life, and a call to action to protect the most vulnerable in our communities.”

Ms Johnson has encouraged her social meida followers to donate to the GoFundMe saying she believed the organisations needed to be “acknowledged for the roles they played in Phee Phee’s life and getting her home to us”.