PHEOBE Bishop’s heartbroken family have confirmed the remains discovered in bushland are hers after the 17-year-old disappeared last month.
The Australian teen’s own housemates were formally charged with her murder earlier this month, with the remains discovered just a day later.
James Wood, 34, and Tanika Bromley, 33, were charged with Pheobe’s murder on June 5.
Cops discovered the teen’s remains just a day after in bushland close to a national park – an hour’s drive away from Bundaberg airport.
Pheobe, from Gin Gin, north of Brisbane, had not been seen or heard from since Thursday, May 15.
The grieving Bishop family said that officers on Monday confirmed the remains belonged to Pheobe.
The family expressed their gratitude by saying, “We deeply appreciate all those who provided information, participated in the search, and offered their kind messages.”
“We just would also like to have time to process and grieve this new information as a family and ask for privacy at this time.”
On Tuesday afternoon, Queensland Police released a statement with the unfortunate news, asking for additional details about the 17-year-old’s final hours.
It said: “Human remains located at an area near Good Night Scrub National Park are that of missing teenager Pheobe Bishop.
“The remains were found on June 6 during a search of the area. Investigators are continuing efforts to find more related items of interest.”
“Officers continue to appeal for any information in relation to Pheobe Bishop or the movement of a grey Hyundai IX35 between May 15 to 18 in the greater Gin Gin area.”
Harrowing footage revealed the disgusting conditions Pheobe was living in with her two alleged killer housemates.
Police first arrested Wood as he was the last person to see the teen as he reportedly took her to the airport.
Cops believe during the drive to the airport, Wood, his girlfriend Bromley, and Pheobe all argued over stopping on the trip.
Pheobe wanted to do her makeup in the car as she was on her way to Perth to visit her “high-school sweetheart” boyfriend, Wood said.
The teen got her way in the end as Wood said he pulled over less than a kilometre away from their destination.
He said: “We wanted to give her five minutes, give her her own space to do what she needed to do.”
Police first arrested Wood as he was the last person to see the teen as he reportedly took her to the airport.
Cops believe during the drive to the airport, Wood, his girlfriend Bromley, and Pheobe all argued over stopping on the trip.
Pheobe wanted to do her makeup in the car as she was on her way to Perth to visit her “high-school sweetheart” boyfriend, Wood said.
The teen got her way in the end as Wood said he pulled over less than a kilometre away from their destination.
He said: “We wanted to give her five minutes, give her her own space to do what she needed to do.”
The pair continue to say they had nothing to do with Pheobe’s disappearance or death.
Wood and Bromley will appear in court on August 11.
Pheobe Bishop timeline
May 14: Pheobe Bishop’s last known bank transaction takes place.
May 15: Pheobe is reportedly dropped off near Bundaberg Airport’s terminal by her housemates, James Wood and Tanika Bromley, in order to catch a flight to Brisbane and then to Perth to visit her boyfriend.
May 15, 8:30am: Pheobe makes a final phone call to her boyfriend before her scheduled flight. Her phone is then switched off and has remained inactive since.
May 15, post-8:30am: Pheobe fails to check in for her flight. CCTV footage confirms she did not enter the airport terminal.
May 16: Family and police initiate search efforts. Pheobe’s social media accounts show no activity during this period.
May 21: Police declare Pheobe’s disappearance as suspicious.
May 24: Nine days after disappearing, Pheobe’s distressed mum pleads the public for information. She says she is “absolutely begging anyone with any information to contact the Queensland Police Service”.
May 25: The search effort is widened to cover more area and homicide officers are brought in to help.
June 4: Police call off the “physical search for Pheobe, who has now been missing for three weeks.
June 5: Bromley and Wood are both arrested and charged with one count of murder and two counts of interfering with a corpse
June 6: Police find human remains near the area Pheobe was last seen.
