The mother of missing Queensland teenager Pheobe Bishop has spoken out, as police charged her two housemates, a man and a woman, with the 17-year-old’s murder.
“Our world has just been shattered into the most horrific place I’ve ever been…” Kylie Johnson wrote on Facebook, in a heartbreaking plea for more information about her daughter’s disappearance.
“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.”
On Thursday, detectives charged James Wood, 34, and Tanika Bromley, 33, with one count each of murder and two counts each of interfering with a corpse. Pheobe had been living with Wood and Bromley, and the pair are due to appear in Bundaberg Magistrates Court on Friday.
Pheobe has not been seen or heard from since May 15, with police declaring her disappearance suspicious on May 21.
Two crime scenes were declared, including a car she was believed to have been traveling to the airport in, and the house where she’d been living in Gin Gin. Police conducted several enquiries during their investigations, including multiple searches of Good Night Scrub National Park
The remains of Pheobe have not been located to date, and detectives continue to investigate.
Before her disappearance, Pheobe had been meant to board a flight to Western Australia, but police say CCTV footage showed she did not enter the terminal at Bundaberg airport.
Over the course of the investigation, Pheobe’s mum has been posting to social media, sharing updates and heartfelt descriptions of Pheobe’s strong relationships with loved ones.
“My heart is holding onto every little memory and hope that you come home to us Phee Phee. The little internal family jokes, the little digs at your siblings and the love that you all unconditionally shared.The fierceness of that was beyond beautiful and unique.”
“I remember someone commenting once that you were all so co dependent that you finished each other’s sentences. This statement made me the happiest mum alive! Your sibling bond is deep, meaningful and makes my heart so happy. The emotional connection, love and friendship has always been unmatched and unquestioned.”
Her mum emphasised that it was very unusual behaviour for Pheobe not to contact her family and friends.
“Anyone that knows Pheobe knows how deeply and unconditionally she loves her family, her friends and her socials,” Johnson said.
In a video statement released via police on Saturday, Johnson said the pain of not knowing where her daughter is located is something no person or family should have to endure.
“Pheobe was a beautiful, loving, kind person, and everyday not knowing where she has been is devastating for us,” Johnson said.
In another post, Johnson wrote of her own grief for her daughter, saying: “I don’t know if life will ever be the same again? I don’t know if I will ever look at the world the same way that I did before May 15th.”
According to the Australian Femicide Watch, run by activist Sherele Moody, Pheobe is the 33rd Australian woman killed this year and the 136th woman killed since January 1, 2024.
If you have information for police, contact Policelink by providing information using the online suspicious activity form 24hrs per day at www.police.qld.gov.au/reporting or call 131 444.
Report crime information anonymously via Crime Stoppers. Call 1800 333 000 or report online at www.crimestoppersqld.com.au.