A 17-year-old girl who disappeared without a trace after failing to board a flight was on her way to meet her ‘high school sweetheart’, Daily Mail can reveal.
Pheobe Bishop was scheduled to fly from Bundaberg to Western , via Brisbane, on Thursday, May 15, to visit a friend.
However, the teen did not check in or board her Bundaberg flight at 8.30am on Thursday, and there has been no sign of her since. Police have said her last sighting was on Airport Drive – near Bundaberg airport – but she has not been seen in CCTV footage.
On Wednesday morning, Queensland Police announced the investigation into Pheobe’s disappearance was now being treated as suspicious.
Detectives have declared two crime scenes: a property in Gin Gin, west of Bundaberg, where Pheobe was living prior to her disappearance, and the location where a silver Hyundai ix35 hatchback with registration 414-EW3 – believed to be the car she travelled to Airport Drive in – was found. Police have seized the car.
A family member revealed that Pheobe had saved up money and purchased her air fare in order to visit her boyfriend in Western .
‘He was her high school sweetheart that moved away,’ they said.
Another relative said that Pheobe had spoken to her boyfriend on the phone just before she disappeared.
‘She didn’t check in for her flight to visit her boyfriend who she spoke to on the phone at 8.30am,’ they said.
‘Her phone has been switched off from this point. She hasn’t contacted anyone at all, no one has seen her.’
Pheobe’s social media accounts have been inactive since she went missing, while her bank account has had no activity since May 14.
Acting Police Inspector Ryan Thompson told reporters at a press conference on Tuesday that Pheobe was last seen at about 8.30am at Airport Drive in Bundaberg.
Insp Thompson said Pheobe was dropped off at the airport by ‘associates’ but never made it to the terminal.
Police are investigating what happened outside the terminal at the time of her disappearance.
Insp Thompson added Pheobe’s disappearance was out of character and investigations would continue ‘as long as it takes’ to locate the missing girl.
‘As time goes on, the more worried the family is and the more concerned police are becoming,’ Insp Thompson said.
‘We are keeping an open mind in relation to the investigation.
‘We do have associates that are assisting police with our inquiries at the moment, and this is why we’re trying to narrow down that timeline in relation to where Pheobe could be.’
Pheobe was travelling with luggage and was last seen wearing a green tank top and grey tracksuit pants.
A land search was conducted around Airport Drive and the surrounding areas on Monday but police failed to locate any of her personal belongings.
Pheobe’s mum, Kylie Johnson, has put up more than 400 missing person posters across Bundaberg and surrounding areas.
Ms Johnson has shared a series of updates on social media.
‘As we enter another day with Pheobe still missing our heart’s are breaking more and more,’ Ms Johnson wrote on Facebook on Wednesday.
‘Phee we just need to know that you’re ok? We just need to hear your voice!
‘I’m begging anyone that has anything to contact Police Link (on) 131 444.
‘We as a family are thankful for the message of support and offers of assistance. Right now we are grasping onto hope and just trying to breath.
‘Again all anyone can do to help is: Keep sharing Pheobe’s flyer, follow the QLD police for updates and requests for information, keep having conversations with your loved ones, community and colleagues and hold your babies close!
‘We would currently do anything to be able to hold our baby tight right now.’
In another message shared on Facebook, the distraught mother shot down suggestions that her daughter had run away, saying her disappearance was out of character.
‘If you knew Pheobe you would know that she is free spirited and loves hard! She is loyal to the core and cut throat,’ Ms Johnson wrote.
She said her daughter last week marked the anniversaries of the deaths of her best friend and family members.
‘She would never leave her family without contact – especially this week. [She] would never not contact us at this emotional time.’
Ms Johnson also shared an emotional plea addressed directly to her daughter, begging her to let them know that she was okay.
‘Honestly have no words to describe our heartbreak, heartache or fear that we won’t see or hear from her again,’ Ms Johnson wrote.
‘Flea, Flea, my heart tells me that you won’t see this, but I love you more than anything in the world.
‘Would be homeless just to hear you say “Hey Mummzie what’s doing”… I would honestly sell my soul to hear those words.’
Pheobe is described as approximately 180cm (six foot) tall with a pale complexion, long dyed red hair and hazel eyes.
Police are urgently appealing for anyone with dashcam footage of Airport Drive, Commercial Street and Samuels Road area between 8.30am and 9.30am on May 15 to come forward.
Anyone with information regarding Pheobe’s whereabouts is urged to contact police link on 131 444.