Pheobe Bishop: Police say missing teen’s body moved ‘more than once’ after she was allegedly murdered

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Peta Rasdien
The Nightly
James Wood and Tanika Bromley arrest on suspicion of murder.

Detectives believe Pheobe Bishop’s body was moved “more than once” after her alleged murder.

Speaking after the missing 17-year-old’s housemates were charged on Thursday, Detective Craig Mansfield said Pheobe’s body was still missing and that the focus of the ongoing investigation was to bring her home.

James Wood, 34, and Tanika Bromley, 33, were charged with one count each of murder and two counts each of interfering with a corpse on Thursday night.

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Pheobe was last seen on May 15. She failed to board a flight to WA to visit her boyfriend and was reported missing.

“Whilst this part of our investigation has culminated in the arrest, we are not finished with this investigation,” Det. Mansfield said.

“Our focus has always been to bring Pheobe home. Our focus is to continue to do that.

“We’re putting every effort available to us into that and we hope that we’ll have a resolution over the coming days and weeks.”

“If we do . . . locate Pheobe, we will expect to find further evidence to support our brief of evidence.”

Pheobe’s luggage is still also missing.

Pheobe Bishop, 17, went missing on May 15.
Pheobe Bishop, 17, went missing on May 15. Credit: Kylie Johnson/facebook/supplied

Det. Mansfield said Mr Wood and Ms Bromley were arrested in the Bundaberg area between 6pm and 7pm on Thursday.

When asked why the pair had been charged with two counts of interfering with a corpse, Det. Mansfield said police believed that her body had been moved.

“We will allege that Pheobe was moved more than one occasion,” he said, confirming that one of those occasions was in the Goodnight Scrub National Park, which had been a focus of the police investigation.

He said “telephone data” had led them to the location. They believed her body was somewhere in the greater Gin Gin area, but he would not speculate about a possible murder weapon.

Pheobe Bishop’s housemate James Wood.
Pheobe Bishop’s housemate James Wood. Credit: Unknown/Supplied
Tanika Bromley.
Tanika Bromley. Credit: Unknown/Supplied

Mr Wood and Ms Bromley were living with Pheobe in a rundown, garbage-strewn house in Gin Gin when she vanished.

The pair claimed they dropped her to Bundaberg Airport in their grey Hyundai ix35 before she vanished. But police say CCTV at the airport proved she never made it.

“We will allege that our evidence will outline the fact that three people arrived near to the airport and three people never exited that vehicle,” Det. Mansfield said.

He said there was some information about a possible motivation for the alleged murder but that would be revealed during the court process.

He also confirmed a number of deceased dogs were found at Mr Wood and Ms Bromley’s Gin Gin house during a search early in the investigation when the house was declared a crime scene.

Pheobe Bishop was living with Tanika Bromley and James Wood when she disappeared.
Pheobe Bishop was living with Tanika Bromley and James Wood when she disappeared. Credit: Kylie Johnson/facebook/supplied

Det. Mansfield said Mr Wood and Ms Bromley were understandably shocked when they were charged but they had cooperated.

He said both had engaged lawyers.

Det. Mansfield also thanked the Bundaberg and Gin Gin communities for their support in the investigation, revealing they had been inundated with calls and assistance.

“I’ve had over 200 investigation files and tip offs from the public that have come our way. So, we do thank your community.”

Pheobe’s mother Kylie Johnson said her world was “shattered” when police confirmed Pheobe has been allegedly murdered.

“Our world has just been shattered into the most horrific place I’ve ever been…” Ms Johnson wrote in a social media post.

“I need my baby home to put her to rest! I’m absolutely begging anyone that knows anything to come forward.

“We need to put her to rest, we need to put her to peace.”

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