The housemates of a missing 17-year-old Queensland girl have been charged with her murder.
Pheobe Bishop was last seen in Bundaberg, Queensland on 15 May where she intended to board a flight. Police say she never checked in.
On Wednesday, one of her housemates, a 34-year-old man, was arrested and taken into custody. He was released without being charged early on Thursday morning.
Late Thursday evening, both he and Bishop’s other housemate, a 33-year-old woman, were arrested and charged with murder.
Investigation
Bishop was reported by police as missing on 16 May, a day after she was last seen on Airport Drive in Bundaberg.
Police conducted a search of Airport Drive where Bishop was last spotted but did not discover “the girl or any personal belongings.”
Following this, two crime scenes were established: Bishop’s residence in the town of Gin Gin, where she lived with Wood, and the car that she was seen in on Airport Drive. The car was seized by the police.
Searches
On 23 May, police conducted a search in the Good Night Scrub National Park south of Gin Gin.
During that search, police took some items in for “forensic examination.”
This search has since been suspended and police continue to search the greater Gin Gin area, including a property and vehicle.
Police are yet to locate Bishop’s body or any remains.
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Initial arrest
On Wednesday, Bishop’s 34-year-old housemate James Wood was arrested and taken into custody.
Police said he was “assisting with enquiries as part of ongoing investigations into [her] disappearance.”
Wood was released without being charged on Thursday morning.
New charges
On Thursday evening, both Wood and a second housemate, 33-year-old Tanika Bromley, were arrested and charged.
They were each charged with one count of murder and two counts of “interfering with a corpse”.
They are due to appear in Bundaberg Magistrates Court today.
Response
In response to the charges, Bishop’s mother, Kylie Johnson said: “Our world has just been shattered into the most horrific place I’ve ever been.”
“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.”
Police have advised their investigation and searches “will continue as needed as information is provided.”
