The heartbreaking search for missing Australian teenager Pheobe Bishop has taken a grim turn.
Just three weeks after the 17-year-old disappeared, police have arrested and charged her housemates with murder.
This shocking development has rocked the small community of Gin Gin, near Bundaberg, Queensland, where Pheobe had been living.
Arrests Made in Bundaberg as Police Seek Answers
James Wood, 34, and his partner Tanika Bromley, 33, were taken into custody late Thursday night.
They had been caring for Pheobe in the weeks leading up to her disappearance on May 15.
Authorities believe the couple were the last people to see her and were supposed to drop her off at Bundaberg airport on the morning she vanished.
Murder and Interfering With a Corpse Charges Filed
Both Wood and Bromley face serious charges: one count of murder each and two counts each of interfering with a corpse.
They remain behind bars and are scheduled to appear in Bundaberg Magistrates Court on Friday.
However, despite the arrest, Pheobe’s body has still not been found, leaving her family and friends desperate for answers.
Police Continue Search Despite Breakthrough
Police have confirmed that Pheobe’s remains have not yet been located, but investigations are ongoing.
“Detectives continue to investigate this matter, and physical searches will continue as needed as information is provided,” a police statement said.
The search has included multiple locations, but key evidence has yet to surface.
Strange Activity on Pheobe’s Facebook Raises Questions
In the hours before the charges, friends noticed unusual activity on Pheobe’s Facebook account.
Her Messenger appeared online sporadically over a 14-hour window, with one friend spotting the green “active” dot near midnight and another catching the account online just minutes before 2pm.
These odd signs raised alarms, prompting friends to report the activity and share concerns on social media, including to Pheobe’s mother, Kylie Johnson.
Family’s Heartbreaking Plea for Answers
Pheobe’s mother shared a deeply emotional message after hearing the news of the charges.
“Our world has just been shattered into the most horrific place I’ve ever been,” she wrote.
“I need my baby home to put her to rest! I’m absolutely begging anyone that knows anything to come forward.”
Her plea underscores the pain of a family desperate for closure.
Remembering Pheobe on the Third Week of Her Disappearance
Just hours earlier, Kylie Johnson marked three weeks since her daughter vanished with a touching tribute on Facebook.
She reminisced about Pheobe’s close bond with her siblings and their unique family jokes.
“My heart is holding onto every little memory and hope that you come home to us,” she wrote, expressing the deep love and connection shared in their family.
Last Known Whereabouts and Plans for Flight
Pheobe was last seen leaving the Gin Gin home she shared with Wood and Bromley.
The couple drove her to Bundaberg Airport for an 8:30 am flight to Brisbane, with plans for her to continue on to Perth to meet her boyfriend.
But Pheobe never boarded the flight, and neither she nor her luggage has been seen since.
Police also confirmed no activity on her phone or bank accounts.
Earlier Arrest and Police Investigation Progress
Wood was initially arrested earlier in the week but released without charge.
Police continued to follow multiple leads, including searching the Gin Gin property and a vehicle believed to have been used to transport Pheobe.
The investigation also focused on Good Night Scrub National Park, where forensic teams and cadaver dogs searched the area, but evidence suggested something may have been moved before police arrived.
Ongoing Appeal for Information
Authorities urge anyone with information about Pheobe’s disappearance to come forward.
The community’s hope remains pinned on someone stepping up with the answers needed to bring Pheobe home and help her family find peace.