Phoebe Bishop: Queensland Police yet to visit key figure in teen’s mystery disappearance
A key figure in the suspicious disappearance of Pheobe Bishop has not been visited for an in-person interview by detectives investigating the mystery, it has been revealed.
Queensland Police have confirmed none of its officers have yet flown to Western Australia to meet with the missing girl’s boyfriend — who she was on her way to meet when she vanished.
The teen is not believed to be a suspect in the case and is thought to have cooperated with detectives. Police previously confirmed they had spoken to the 17-year-old.
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Pheobe, who is also 17, hasn’t been seen since May 15 after failing to check in for her flight at Bundaberg Airport.
Her housemates, Tanika Bromley and James Wood, told police that they drove Pheobe in their grey Hyundai ix35, dropping her and her luggage at the airport for the 8.30am flight. But police say CCTV shows she never made it.
That car and the Gin Gin house the trio had been living in were declared crime scenes in the early stages of the police investigation.
There is no suggestion that Mr Wood, 34, or Ms Bromley, 33, are involved in Pheobe’s disappearance.
Both Mr Wood and Ms Bromley are facing unrelated weapons charges, stemming from a police search of their Hyundai during the investigation into Pheobe’s whereabouts.
Police allegedly found a shortened firearm, ammunition and two replica handguns during a search of the vehicle.
It’s believed Pheobe tried to call her boyfriend as she was being driven to the airport but the call cut out.
He told the Daily Mail he could not hear Pheobe during the call.
Unaware that anything was wrong, he went to the Perth airport and waited hours in vain for her to arrive.
The day after Pheobe vanished, he posted on social media “Maybe I deserve all the pain I am feeling right now, I mean it is my fault, I should have done better”.
“Me staring at her dry texts wondering if I did something wrong and not asking cuz I don’t wanna be annoying.”
In reality, Pheobe appeared to be looking forward to visiting her boyfriend. In an out-of-the-blue text exchange with her estranged aunt, Carolea ‘Caz’ Johnson, Pheobe wrote she was “flying the f**k out of here to see my boyfriend”.
“If it goes to plan I’m not coming back. I can’t do sh*t anymore.
“I need to get out of this hellhole.”
Detectives are yet to visit her boyfriend in WA.
“Queensland Police officers have not travelled to Western Australia as part of this investigation but police continue to speak to people who know Pheobe,” a spokesperson confirmed.
Last week, they called off the search of the Good Night Scrub National Park involving cadaver dogs, water police, drones, and State Emergency Service crews after earlier finding some items believed to be linked to the investigation.
“The items located can’t be disclosed as this could impact the investigation and the items are currently undergoing forensic examination,” police said at the time.
They also indicated some evidence may have been moved before officers arrived on scene.
“Some key materials may have been moved from the Good Night Scrub area prior to police arrival,” investigators said.
The greater Gin Gin area remains the focus of the investigation.
Anyone with information, footage, or sightings of Pheobe or the grey Hyundai between May 15 and May 18 in the Gin Gin area has been urged to contact police.
Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000
