Pheobe Bishop: Mystery deepens around 17-year-old’s suspicious disappearance in Bundaberg

The mystery surrounding the suspicious disappearance of a teenage girl who failed to check-in for an interstate flight has deepened, with police confirming Pheobe Bishop never made it to the airport and her luggage is also missing.

Detectives are also investigating reports the 17-year-old was seen arguing with the driver of a car before she was kicked out.

That car, a grey Hyundai ix35, belonging to two people she had been living with for sometime before she vanished has since been seized by police and their Gin Gin home has been declared a crime scene.

Police say Pheobe’s housemates had been due to drop her to the airport.

Pheobe’s devastated family and friends have pleaded for help to find the teen after she failed to check-in for a booked flight from Bundaberg Regional Airport and has not been heard from since.

She had saved up to go and visit her boyfriend in Western Australia.

Phoebe was last seen at about 8.30am on May 15 at Airport Drive in Bundaberg.

Detective Acting Inspector Ryan Thompson said police hold concerns for Pheobe’s safety given it had been nearly a week since she was last sighted and that was unusual. It was also worrying that she failed to check in for her flight.

They had spoken to her housemates and her boyfriend as part of the investigation.

Asked if he believed Phoebe was still alive, Det. Acting Insp Thompson said “We are certainly hopeful that she’s still alive. Just because we are deeming this suspicious, does not mean we’re investigating that anything sinister has happened. We’re just trying to rule out other options as well.”

He also said he could not confirm reports that four dead dogs has been found at the property Gin Gin property being examined by police.

“I can’t confirm that and that is not something that I’m aware of.”

Police had reviewed CCTV footage from the airport and were confident she never made it there, Det. Act. Insp Thompson said.

“Phoebe’s family are obviously quite distressed and concerned, so they would obviously like (her) to make contact with them.”

Describing her disappearance as “suspicious”, detectives urgently appealed for anyone with information about Pheobe’s movements to come forward immediately.

Officers have asked the public for dashcam and CCTV footage of the grey Hyundai ix35 with Queensland registration 414EW3 near the Airport Drive and Samuels Road area in Bundaberg and also the Gin Gin area on May 15.

Phoebe is described as approximately 180cm, pale complexion, long dyed red hair, and hazel eyes.

She was last seen carrying luggage and wearing a green tank top and grey sweatpants.

Pheobe’s mother Kylie Johnson, who has been posting regular emotional updates on social media, wrote on Wednesday that the family were still “grasping onto hope” seven days on.

“As we enter another day with Pheobe still missing our heart’s are breaking more and more. Phee we just need to know that you’re ok? We just need to hear your voice!” she wrote.

She encouraged people to come forward if they had information.

“And hold your babies close! We would currently do anything to be able to hold our baby tight right now.”