Items found in search for teen, police suspect evidence moved

Forensics teams are examining items uncovered in bushland south-west of Bundaberg in central Queensland, which they believe are linked to the disappearance of a teenage girl more than 10 days ago.

Officers said the items were found in the Good Night Scrub National Park on Monday as police – including sniffer dogs and divers – continued the search for missing 17-year-old Pheobe Bishop.

Detectives believed some evidence had been removed from the area before search crews arrived, and expanded the search area.

Police renewed calls for footage of a grey Hyundai ix35 linked to 17-year-old Pheobe Bishop.Credit: Queensland Police

Meanwhile, a woman who was living with Pheobe has been arrested and charged with weapons offences in the Bundaberg suburb of Millbank. Police have said that the charges are not related to Pheobe’s disappearance.

Police said they found a shortened gun, ammunition and two replica handguns in her car, and more ammunition in their home in Gin Gin.

The grey Hyundai ix35 and the home have both been declared crime scenes as police investigate the girl’s disappearance, which police said was an unrelated matter.

The housemate was arrested on Sunday and was due to appear in court on Monday.

Pheobe was last seen on May 15, when she was supposed to have caught a flight from Bundaberg to Western Australia. Detectives suspected she might have not made it to the airport.

Following the bushland discovery, police renewed calls for public assistance, particularly any sightings of the grey Hyundai ix35 between May 15 to 18 in the greater Gin Gin area, 45 kilometres south-west of Bundaberg.

Police said on Saturday this included any vision of the Mingo Road and Gayndah Road areas.

The property where Bishop was living in Gin Gin.Credit: Nine News

Pheobe had been living in Gin Gin with the woman arrested on weapons charges and another adult housemate before she disappeared.

Initial reports from police suggested the housemates had dropped Bishop at Bundaberg Airport the morning she went missing.

Police were now exploring whether that happened, with CCTV confirming she did not enter the terminal.

Officers have requested any footage taken that morning at nearby Airport Drive and Samuels Road to be handed in.

Police sniffer dogs were brought into the search. Credit: Nine News Queensland

Search crews had first expanded the search area last week, sweeping bushland and nearby towns.

The national park had been the focus of police searches since late week, with officers looking around Paradise Dam on Saturday, and bringing in sniffer dogs shortly before midday on Sunday.

Baker said SES and Queensland Fire Department personnel were also helping.

Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.