As a desperate search stretches into another week, the heartbreaking words of a mother hoping for her daughter’s return have stirred emotion across the country.
Pheobe Bishop, just 17 years old, hasn’t been seen since May 15—and now, police are pulling out all the stops, including deploying cadaver dogs to a national park in Queensland.
The search has taken a serious turn with authorities intensifying efforts in the rugged Good Night Scrub National Park, located just outside the town of Gin Gin.
This is about an hour from where Pheobe was last spotted.
Tracing the Last Known Movements of Pheobe
Pheobe had been staying in Gin Gin with a couple—Tanika Bromley and James Wood—before she disappeared.
Detectives say the pair drove her to Bundaberg Airport early on May 15.
She was meant to catch an 8:30 a.m. flight to Brisbane and then head to Perth to meet her boyfriend.
But she never made it on board.
Her final social media posts hinted at a falling out with her mother and a decision not to return home.
Why she was living with Bromley and Wood in the first place remains unclear.
The couple have been interviewed by police and released with no charges. Authorities have not suggested they are involved.
A Mysterious Discovery in the National Park
On Friday night, investigators revealed they had found an item of potential interest within Good Night Scrub National Park.
Details about what was found remain scarce. Detective Acting Inspector Ryan Thompson said police are still hoping to uncover evidence connected to Pheobe’s disappearance.
Police divers also searched a creek in the area, while SES crews and officers on foot, in helicopters, and on boats scoured the surrounding land and waterways.
The park has become the new focal point in the investigation.
Police Try to Piece Together a Timeline
Authorities have asked anyone who may have seen a Hyundai ix35 in the park on the day Pheobe vanished to come forward.
They’re trying to figure out the car’s movements and determine how it might relate to Pheobe’s disappearance.
Detective Inspector Thompson confirmed that police are speaking to people connected to the case and narrowing down crucial timeframes.
Despite thorough questioning and increased search efforts, they’ve yet to identify any person of interest.
Pheobe’s Mum Describes Her as a Fierce Spirit
Amid the mounting concern, Pheobe’s mum, Kylie Johnson, shared a deeply personal statement through police, painting a vivid picture of her daughter’s vibrant spirit.
“Phee has always been strong-willed and marched to her own beat,” Kylie said.
“I’ve always called her my ‘Wild Gypsy Banshee’. I knew from the moment she was born she was destined for adventure.”
She went on to describe Pheobe as feisty, deeply empathetic, and fiercely loyal.
“She loves harder than anyone I’ve ever met. Her friends could always count on her for the truth—and a lot of sass with it.”
“She’s the sunflower in a field full of wildflowers.
We need her back. We need her hugs, her music, her voice,” Kylie wrote.
“Phee would never go this long without talking to someone. It’s just not who she is.”
A Mother’s Final Words: “Guide Her Back to Us”
In a more recent update, Kylie shared another message, filled with emotion and hope.
“I’m praying the lights of Gin Gin and the world guide you back to me,” she wrote.
“Back to us, your siblings, our family. Life isn’t the same without you.”
Community Urged to Help Find Answers
With no solid leads yet, police and family are appealing to anyone with information—no matter how small—to come forward.
Whether you saw something on May 15 or have heard anything since, they say even the tiniest clue could help bring Pheobe home.
The search is still underway, with authorities urging people who were in or around Good Night Scrub National Park that day to check their dashcams, CCTV, or even phone records for anything unusual.