Horror find at house where missing teen Pheobe Bishop lived
Police have made an alarming admission about the final movements of a 17-year-old Queensland girl before she vanished in suspicious circumstances.
QLD News
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Detectives investigating the suspicious disappearance of teen Pheobe Bishop say there is no proof she was ever dropped at Bundaberg Airport, seizing a car and setting up a crime scene at a property where she was staying.
Ms Bishop was due to fly from Bundaberg to Brisbane and then on to Western Australia to visit a friend on May 15, but failed to board the flight.
Police had been told she was last seen at Airport Dr with luggage, however investigators said they have no confirmed sightings of the teen at the airport. They have also not found her luggage.
A Gin Gin property where the teenager had been living with two people and a grey Hyundai ix35 — the car that was meant to drop her at the airport — have both been declared crime scenes.
The SUV, with Queensland registration 414EW3, which is owned by one of two people from the house, is undergoing forensic examination at a Bundaberg holding facility.
Detective Acting Inspector Ryan Thompson said police were confident Pheobe never made it to the airport despite being told it was the last place she was seen.
“We have received CCTV from the airport which indicated she did not enter the terminal,” Inspector Thompson said.
“That’s why we are quite confident Pheobe didn’t make it to the airport.
“We do hold concerns for her safety due to it being nearly a week since she was last sighted.”
When asked about claims of argument inside the car, Inspector Thompson said that would form part of their investigation.
Pheobe was living in the Milden St home in Gin Gin with two flatmates.
Police said she had lived at the property “for a while”, but the other occupants were not direct family members.
The silver Hyundai seized by police was owned by those flatmates, who told police they dropped Pheobe off at the airport with luggage.
Police have spoken to those who lived in the house, who are co-operating with officers and have provided “detailed accounts”.
Inspector Thompson said determining the movements of the vehicle and the timeline of events was now a crucial part of the investigation.
“That’s forming part of our investigation of how she travelled from Gin Gin to Bundaberg, we are currently appealing for information on whereabouts Pheobe was last seen,” he said.
Asked whether people could be lying to police, Inspector Thompson said he wouldn’t speculate.
“I won’t speculate on any lying, but police are trying to narrow down the timeframe and the timeline of where this vehicle has gone.”
“We are asking for information on Samuels Rd, and all that information that the public is providing will assist us with our inquiries.”
Asked whether Pheobe had been met with foul play, Inspector Thompson said police weren’t ruling out any scenario.
Police were now focusing on the Avoca and Branyan areas, relating to the movements of the vehicle.
On Wednesday, police tape covered the entrance to the Milden St property where the teen was staying as police continued forensic examinations at the crime scene.
The property had a large bus parked out the front of it along with a boat.
Bags of rubbish were seen outside the property and there were reports several dead dogs had been removed.
Gin Gin residents were gathered outside the home on Wednesday, and customers at the South Kolan Pub described Pheobe’s disappearance as “scary,” with a bartender saying her father had dropped off a poster which sat prominently on the noticeboard.
When asked about the investigation on Wednesday, Acting Commissioner Shane Chelepy urged anyone with information on Pheobe’s disappearance to contact police.
“Pheobe has now been missing for six days in the Bundaberg area … we today established two crime scenes … and we’re treating that missing person as suspicious, and we have an investigation now underway,” Mr Chelepy said.
The teen’s mother Kylie Johnson has pleaded for anyone with information to contact police.
The family have posted hundreds of flyers in the Bundaberg area and beyond in the hope of people recognising her.
“As we enter another day with Pheobe still missing our heart’s are breaking more and more,” Ms Johnson wrote online on Wednesday.
“Phee we just need to know that you’re ok? We just need to hear your voice! “I’m begging anyone that has anything to contact Police link 131 444.
“We as a family are thankful for the message of support and offers of assistance.“ Right now we are grasping onto hope and just trying to breath. Again all anyone can do to help is- “Keep sharing Pheobe’s flyer.
“Follow the QLD police for updates and requests for information. “Keep having conversations with your loved ones, community and colleagues.
“And hold your babies close! We would currently do anything to be able to hold our baby tight right now.”
Police have urged anyone with dashcam or CCTV footage of the vehicle in the Airport Drive, Samuels Road and Gin Gin areas on May 15 to contact investigators.
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Originally published as Horror find at house where missing teen Pheobe Bishop lived