By CAITLIN POWELL and KARLEIGH SMITH and JONICA BRAY IN BUNDABERG FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA
Pheobe Bishop’s older sister has tearfully pleaded for information that will bring the missing teenager’s remains home as cops revealed they believe her body was moved multiple times after she was allegedly murdered.
Kaylea Bishop, 18, attended Bundaberg Magistrates Court on Friday, dressed in black with her eyes red, where Pheobe’s housemates James Wood and Tanika Bromley were due to appear accused of Pheobe’s murder
She sat in the far corner of the front row, staring straight ahead flanked by friends, family and a court security guard as details of the murder charges against the couple were read out.
Kaylea walked outside to the waiting media and gave a tearful statement.
‘We just want her home,’ she said.
‘I don’t know what to say, if you’ve got any information about Pheobe or the car, just come forward.
‘Three weeks is too long for us as a family. She was loved, she’s missed dearly.’
Kaylea and Pheobe had a close relationship and had been planning to move out of the family home and into a house together last year.
Queensland 17-year-old Pheobe Bishop (pictured) has been missing for 23 days
Queensland Police slapped Bundaberg couple James Wood, 34 (pictured, left) and Tanika Bromley, 33 (pictured, right) with one charge of murder each
Pheobe’s older sister Kaylea Bishop (pictured, centre) attended Bundaberg Magistrates Court where she sat with friends as details on the charges were read out
Queensland Police have been searching a ‘vast area with unforgiving terrain’ in central Queensland for the 17-year-old’s remains.
Pheobe was last seen on May 15 leaving the Gin Gin home, near Bundaberg in central Queensland, where she was living with Wood, 34, and Bromley, 33.
The couple allegedly drove Pheobe to Bundaberg Airport for an 8.30am flight to Brisbane and then on to Perth, where she planned to meet up with her boyfriend.
She never got on the plane and Detective Inspect Craig Mansfield told reporters on Friday that, as the investigation progressed, hope of finding Pheobe alive became unviable.
‘Our evidence will outline the fact that three people arrived near to the airport and three people never exited that vehicle,’ he told reporters on Friday.
‘Our investigation will detail the facts that we believe Phoebe was murdered and then her body was moved.
‘We will allege that Phoebe was moved more than one occasion.’
Pheobe had been living with the couple prior to her disappearance on May 15.
The couple were arrested in Bundaberg on Thursday night and were each charged with one count of murder and two counts of interfering with a corpse.
Kaylea left the court with friends comforting her as she walked away
Police had been searching several areas of interest, including the Gin Gin home, before they announced efforts would be ‘scaled back’ earlier this week
Pheobe had been living with the couple at a home in Gin Gin, near Bundaberg, and the pair are believed to have been the last to see her while driving her to the airport
They remain in custody and were due to front Bundaberg Magistrates Court on Friday morning but did not appear via video link.
The arrests came after Wood was initially arrested on Wednesday and then released without charge.
The search for Pheobe had been scaled back on Wednesday after police spent weeks combing several areas of interest.
They included the property in Gin Gin where Pheobe lived with Wood and Bromley and a grey Hyundai ix35, thought to have been used to take the teen to the airport.
Pheobe’s remains have not been found and her luggage has not been seen since she disappeared.
Det. Insp. Mansfield said officers are hoping to engage with Wood and Bromley’s lawyers ‘in the near future’ regarding any information on where Pheobe might be.
He said the weeks-long investigation has led police, through telephone data, to focus on the area around Good Night Scrub National Park.
The search had initially focused on the area with homicide detectives, cadaver dogs and divers called in to aid the 100-strong effort.
Police said officers will want to question Wood and Bromley about where Pheobe’s remains are
While Kaylea sat in court with friends, family and a court guard, there was no appearance from Wood or Bromley during the session
Police have also towed Wood’s SUV which he had ‘effectively been living out of it from time to time’ for forensic examination on Thursday night.
The search initially focused on Good Night Scrub National Park with homicide detectives, cadaver dogs and divers called in.
Some items believed to be linked to the investigation were seized for forensic examination.
‘We have had some great support with the community, with some areas that may be of interest,’ Det. Insp. Mandsfield said.
‘But we’re really hoping that we will get some more specific information that will help us find Pheobe.’
Anyone with information regarding Pheobe’s disappearance is urged to call Crime Stoppers.
