‘Lies’: Pheobe Bishop family feud erupts over aunt’s claim about teen’s disability

The mother of a Queensland teen allegedly murdered by her housemates has accused her own sister of creating a “circus” with comments about the case.

The mother of a Queensland teenager allegedly murdered by her two adult housemates has accused her own sister of creating a “circus” with comments about the girl’s disability and living arrangements.

The shocking family feud erupted on social media this week after Pheobe Bishop’s aunt, Caz Johnson, publicly questioned claims that the 17-year-old had a disability and questioned how she came to be living in the squalid Gin Gin home with her alleged murderers.

Police allege Pheobe was killed on May 15 by her housemates Tanika Bromley, 33, and James Wood, 34, soon after being spotted in CCTV on Airport Drive, Kensington, near Bundaberg.

Tanika Bromley and James Wood have been charged with the Pheobe Bishop’s murder. Picture: Supplied

It will be alleged in court that Ms Bromley and Mr Wood were responsible for the teen’s death and moved her body twice — once on May 15 and again two days later.

Remains believed to be that of Pheobe were found at Good Night Scrub National Park on June 6.

The pair were charged with murder and two counts of interfering with a corpse earlier this month after an investigation into Pheobe’s disappearance.

Writing on Facebook over the weekend, Caz Johnson said she was speaking as “the aunty by blood” and asked, “Who payed [sic] for all the flyers?”

“Not Kylie but NDIS, Pheobe had no disabilities but [was] a child who was out of control,” she wrote.

Facebook posts from 2024 by Pheobe — looking for work in the area — and her sister seeking a rental for the pair, had suggested they were both disability support workers through the NDIS, and that Pheobe also earned an income as an NDIS cleaner.

Caz Johnson claimed Pheobe did not have a disability. Picture: Facebook

“Even cleaners for NDIS, elderly, disability need to have all the same checks/cards and being 15/16 at the time no way would be able to get them except [for] a police check as [an] adult can sign for it,” Caz Johnson wrote.

“The truth always comes out.”

Pheobe’s grieving mother, Kylie Johnson, shared screenshots of her sister’s comments on Monday in a furious post.

“I’m sorry but blood doesn’t make you family,” she wrote.

“Showing up, being present and unconditional love makes you family. Please refrain from referencing my daughter as YOUR FAMILY, she may be blood related however YOU know nothing about her. YOU state Phee Phee had no disability? Where is your evidence? Where are your professional reports or better yet your qualifications to state that she didn’t have a disability? Oh wait you wouldn’t know because you didn’t KNOW HER!”

Pheobe’s mother, Kylie Johnson. Picture: Queensland Police

She added that that her “estranged sister” would reflect “on her current behaviour to desist the circus she is creating”.

“The world is mourning with you, but this needs to be dealt with privately,” one supporter wrote. “Don’t lose sight of the big picture (Pheobe and getting justice) over defending things that take up too much mental space right now.”

Another said, “My heart breaks for Pheobe. A complicated backstory that has unfortunately put her in a place of danger.”

Court documents last week revealed police will allege Pheobe died close to where she was seen last carrying luggage to the local airport on the day she was due to fly out to meet her boyfriend in Western Australia.

Her phone last pinged near Bundaberg Airport and was fully charged before it was allegedly turned off manually.

Police allege the teen was in a car with her housemates on the way to the airport but never arrived.

The Gin Gin home Pheobe Bishop shared with her alleged murderers. Picture: Supplied

“Our investigation will detail the facts that we believe Pheobe was murdered and then her body was moved,” Detective Inspector Craig Mansfield said.

“We will allege that Pheobe was moved more than once.”

Neither accused appeared when their cases were mentioned before Bundaberg Magistrates Court on June 6 and no pleas have been entered.

The matters were adjourned to August 11.

Meanwhile, the shocking state of the home where Pheobe lived with the pair was also revealed last week.

News cameras were allowed inside the Gin Gin property, four hours north of Brisbane, just days after Ms Bromley and Mr Wood were charged.

“I can’t prepare you enough for this,” the landlord, who was not named, told 7News as he unlocked the door.

Rubbish, food scraps, empty bottles, clothing and even dog poo littered the floors of the old Queenslander-style home.

Dilapidated furniture and what appeared to be stained bedding were also strewn around the home.

“This was originally our bedroom,” the landlord told 7News while showing them through the property.

“The air tastes dirty … I don’t know how people can be breathing this.”

Ms Bromley took out the lease six months ago but had been given notice to leave after a recent inspection, 7News reported.

Originally published as ‘Lies’: Pheobe Bishop family feud erupts over aunt’s claim about teen’s disability