The shocking disappearance and presumed murder of 17-year-old Pheobe Bishop has gripped the community of Bundaberg, Queensland, and drawn intense media scrutiny in Australia. Almost a month after she vanished on May 15, 2025, police have charged two adults, reportedly her housemates, with her murder, even though her remains have yet to be found.
The case raises disturbing questions about the circumstances leading up to Pheobe’s disappearance, the role of those closest to her, and the ongoing search for answers in this tragic mystery.
The Disappearance of Pheobe Bishop
Pheobe Bishop, a teenager from Bundaberg, Queensland, was last seen on the morning of Thursday, May 15, 2025. On that day, she was preparing to board a flight that would take her across the country to visit her boyfriend.
According to the Queensland Police Service, Pheobe left a property in Gin Gin, a small town near Bundaberg, where she lived with two housemates. She departed in a grey Hyundai vehicle driven by her housemates James Wood, 34, and Tanika Kristan Bromley, 33.
The housemates reportedly drove her to the airport but stopped the car just over half a mile from the terminal on Airport Drive. Wood said they gave Pheobe a few minutes alone in the car to get ready for her flight. However, when they returned, Pheobe was gone.
Wood and Bromley assumed she had already gone to board her flight. Police later confirmed that Pheobe was seen carrying luggage on Airport Drive that morning, but she never checked in for the flight and has not been seen or heard from since.
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The fact that Pheobe’s disappearance occurred in such a public place near the airport only deepened the mystery. Surveillance and witness accounts made it clear that Pheobe did not proceed to board the plane as expected, and her trail went cold from that point forward.
Investigation and Charges Against Housemates
In the weeks following Pheobe’s disappearance, Queensland Police conducted an extensive investigation that included multiple searches and forensic examinations. Searches were carried out at Good Night Scrub National Park, as well as thorough forensic examinations of a property and a vehicle in Gin Gin linked to the case.
During the search, police located items believed to be connected to the investigation, which were seized for forensic analysis. Initially, James Wood was arrested and questioned regarding Pheobe’s disappearance but was released without charges on June 5. However, the investigation did not end there.
On Thursday, June 5, the Queensland Police Service announced that both James Wood and Tanika Kristan Bromley had been charged with one count of murder and two counts each of interfering with a corpse in connection with Pheobe Bishop’s death. The charges indicate the police are treating the case as a homicide despite the fact that Pheobe’s remains have not been located.
Both accused are expected to appear in the Bundaberg Magistrates Court on Friday, marking a significant development in the case. The announcement stunned the local community and drew attention to the close relationship between Pheobe and her alleged killers — the very people with whom she lived.
Insights from the Housemates and the Ongoing Search
In an interview with The Daily Mail, James Wood provided some insight into Pheobe’s state of mind in the days leading up to her disappearance. He described her as experiencing “heightened emotions” and recounted an incident where she allegedly smashed a television in a fit of anger. Wood insisted that despite her temper, Pheobe was “not a bad kid” but rather “kind and smart” with good manners. He explained that she had moved in with them because she could no longer live at home.
Wood’s account offers a glimpse into Pheobe’s personal struggles but leaves many questions unanswered. The conflicting narratives and the fact that police are treating this as a murder investigation suggest that something far more sinister occurred.
The police continue their efforts to locate Pheobe’s remains. Despite charges being filed, the physical evidence crucial to the case has yet to be found. Detectives have emphasized that searches will continue as new information arises, underscoring the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the young woman’s fate.
This case highlights the challenges law enforcement faces in investigating disappearances that quickly evolve into murder cases. It also underscores the importance of forensic work, witness testimony, and community vigilance in bringing justice to victims and their families.
The disappearance and likely murder of Pheobe Bishop is a heartbreaking story that has shaken a small community and captured the attention of a nation. As the legal process unfolds, many await the truth of what happened on that fateful day in May and hope for some measure of justice for Pheobe and her loved ones.