Found Deceased Australia - Pheobe Bishop, 17, failed to board a flight from Queensland, Bundaberg, 15 May 2025 *Arrests* #4

[MIG214222]

Pheobe Bishop’s alleged murderer James Wood fronts court on weapons charges – with new look

His lawyer, Lavonda Maloy, told the court an application for Legal Aid funding had been made on his behalf.

Pheobe housemate shocks with surprise new look in court return - PAYWALLED

Above snipped by me

Thanks @Marg944!!

Firm: Maloy Law, meet the team - his lawyer, Lavonda Maloy - a bit of background:
Lavonda had many years policing experience before being convinced of the benefit her skills could provide in private legal practice. Lavonda spent many years as the Officer in Charge of the Gold Coast Police Prosecution Corps, managing over 30 prosecutors, including police, solicitors and barristers. As the most senior prosecutor on the Gold Coast she was regularly called upon to provide legal advice including for events such as Schoolies and for matters attracting high media attention. When she commenced in private practice, Lavonda started a 12 month role to provide some consistency to the Cooper Maloy Legal Bundaberg office. Her affable nature, accurate advice and strong advocacy, quickly resulted in the growth of the firm in Bundaberg such that the establishment of Maloy Law was a natural progression.

Edit - Ooops, forgot me MOO

 

[Aussieboy]

He was in Maryborough at first. They move prisoners depending on space, crime etc. family don't even get told until after the event. It's a safety and security thing.

There's a special facility, one of its kind I believe, at Brisbane Correctional Centre that segregates prisoners who have committed offences against minors. The prison is southwest of Brisbane CBD in the Wacol district.

They must be going to trial them in the Brisbane CBD courts.

Article paywalled

 

[Absoluterubbish]

He was in Maryborough at first. They move prisoners depending on space, crime etc. family don't even get told until after the event. It's a safety and security thing.

It’s been up on the public website for a few days though as BCC and media was still reporting yesterday as Maryborough

 

[Marg944]

Brisbane Correctional Facility where James Wood is currently housed boasts these features…..

Limited toilet flushes per day!!!????!!!!!



“The centre also boasts a range of water and energy saving initiatives such as rainwater tanks, water saving fixtures, toilets with flush valves that control the number of flushes in a 24-hour period, timed shower controls and push button basin taps in cells that automatically turn off.”

Brisbane Correctional Centre

Location and contact details for Queensland’s correctional centres.

www.qld.gov.au

“Brisbane Correctional Centre currently houses mainstream, protection and MSU prisoners. Mainstream – accommodation for the general prison population. Protection – accommodation for prisoners who require more protective supervision than mainstream, for the safety of themselves and others.”

https://www.publications.qld.gov.au/ckan-publications-attachments-prod/resources/d432a21d-3aca-4bff-9d67-ebe4ba4950c0/bcc-visitor-information-booklet.pdf?ETag=009938e2d6767c576661d87dbc6679ba

 

[Leafy]

I think this is a solid theory. Could the tensions have been heightened because they were in the process of being evicted, and PB was not cooperating with a plan to continue any carer arrangement in place that was providing TB with income?

Also to note, as has been mentioned previously, bpd refers to borderline personality disorder, not bipolar disorder.

Interesting as the PDs are not usually diagnosed till adulthood.

 

[essareem]

If the sisters were that close , she may have discussed with her sis that she was possibly taking off to Perth for good. How sad that none of her family members took her to the airport to say goodbye , if there was a chance she was going long term .

Agreed, I find that so strange. So many relatives in one tiny town and none of them could take her to the airport?

 

[essareem]

Paywalled article from yesterday on Courier Mail, re: James Wood court appearance.

Paraphrasing:

James Thomas Muir Wood, 34, appeared in Bundaberg Magistrate’s Court via video-link, a stark contrast to the previous week's chaotic proceedings where he and his partner, Tanika Bromley, faced murder charges. Dressed in green and white prison attire, Wood looked calm and well-groomed, his previously bleach-blonde hair and beard now back to their natural ginger color. He faced weapons charges from May 19, 2025, including possession of a shortened firearm in public and authority to possess explosives. His lawyer, Lavonda Maloy, informed the court that a Legal Aid funding application had been submitted and requested an adjournment for the weapons charges. The case was postponed to August 11, aligning with Wood’s second hearing for the murder charges linked to the disappearance of Gin Gin girl Pheobe Bishop.

 

[acutename]

Yes.
I remember Police said 200 tips.
I guess more or less.

I am betting there is phone tracking evidence from 1-3 of them. I do wonder if PB did have some kind of melt down and JW reacted very badly. It has never really made sense to me that they killed her when she was leaving- makes more sense as a knee jerk loss of temper that got completely out of hand. IMO.

 

[Aussieboy]

I am betting there is phone tracking evidence from 1-3 of them. I do wonder if PB did have some kind of melt down and JW reacted very badly. It has never really made sense to me that they killed her when she was leaving- makes more sense as a knee jerk loss of temper that got completely out of hand. IMO.

There must be mental health issues involved here, look at the way they lived in the house. It's not uncommon for recovered meth users to have episodes either.

Homicide statistics show that arguments are one of the main precursors to homicide.

https://www.aic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2024-06/sr46_homicide_in_australia_2022-23_v3.pdf

https://www.aic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2020-05/cfi110.pdf

 

[Skigh]

Pheobe Bishop's lover breaks silence, reveals tragedy took them apart

Pheobe, 17, vanished en route from her hometown of Gin Gin in central Queensland, to visit her high school sweetheart, Levi, 18, in Western Australia on May 15.

www.dailymail.co.uk

Rick said Levi is still too traumatised by Pheobe's loss - but said the family wanted to pay tribute to the special bond between the lovestruck teenagers.

'Levi absolutely adored Pheobe,' he said.

Rick revealed the tragedy is the second devastating heartbreak to hit the family after Levi lost his mother in a car crash in Bundaberg just four years ago - a tragedy that prompted the family to move across the country.
They would video chat all night, every night, falling asleep - and then they would tell each other who was sleep-talking the next day,' Rick told Daily Mail Australia.

'It was a bit cute.'

The father-of-six said the couple had been excited for weeks about their reunion and were busily planning out every detail.

'Levi had bought Pheobe a Canon camera worth $1000 because she wanted to get into photography,' he said.

'A week before she was supposed to land, Levi had packed the 4WD up with camping gear.

'He had planned a trip to Esperance in WA, camping on the beach with Pheobe.

'They were both really excited about that.

 

[OwlHeart]

Pheobe Bishop's lover breaks silence, reveals tragedy took them apart

Pheobe, 17, vanished en route from her hometown of Gin Gin in central Queensland, to visit her high school sweetheart, Levi, 18, in Western Australia on May 15.

www.dailymail.co.uk

Rick said Levi is still too traumatised by Pheobe's loss - but said the family wanted to pay tribute to the special bond between the lovestruck teenagers.

'Levi absolutely adored Pheobe,' he said.

Rick revealed the tragedy is the second devastating heartbreak to hit the family after Levi lost his mother in a car crash in Bundaberg just four years ago - a tragedy that prompted the family to move across the country.
They would video chat all night, every night, falling asleep - and then they would tell each other who was sleep-talking the next day,' Rick told Daily Mail Australia.

'It was a bit cute.'

The father-of-six said the couple had been excited for weeks about their reunion and were busily planning out every detail.

'Levi had bought Pheobe a Canon camera worth $1000 because she wanted to get into photography,' he said.

'A week before she was supposed to land, Levi had packed the 4WD up with camping gear.

'He had planned a trip to Esperance in WA, camping on the beach with Pheobe.

'They were both really excited about that.

That’s devastating to read.

Sounds like Pheobe would have been in paradise compared to her life in Gin Gin

 

[HinterlandObserver]

Agreed, I find that so strange. So many relatives in one tiny town and none of them could take her to the airport?

I find it a fascinating case study, why did they move there from areas with better and more access to resources for support and care, accomodation, cost of living etc.
I wonder how many support services similar to "Smileys" were active in Gin Gin prior to it being started.

 

[Observe_dont_Absorb]

Agreed, I find that so strange. So many relatives in one tiny town and none of them could take her to the airport?

Maybe PB was more friendly and trusting of this couple than we perceive even though she knew there were fundamental problems. She could still find them likeable or appropriate for giving a ride to the airport. Or maybe they 'insisted'. If they insisted, did they do so with nefarious intentions from the outset or did the taking of PB's life occur spontaneously in an unfolding situation?

JMO MOO

 

[Observe_dont_Absorb]

There must be mental health issues involved here, look at the way they lived in the house. It's not uncommon for recovered meth users to have episodes either.

Homicide statistics show that arguments are one of the main precursors to homicide.


View attachment 595107

https://www.aic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2024-06/sr46_homicide_in_australia_2022-23_v3.pdf

View attachment 595108

https://www.aic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2020-05/cfi110.pdf

I can't recall the finer detail but watched a documentary about 'America's Toughest Prisons' and the expert stated that the vast majority of (male) perpetrators were there because they had felt disrespected and reacted in violent rage against the victim. I guess that would come under the category of an argument?

JMO MOO

 

[Observe_dont_Absorb]

Agreed, I find that so strange. So many relatives in one tiny town and none of them could take her to the airport?

Or even just going with her to see her off at the airport and say goodbyes? Maybe they'd all temporarily fallen out or were practising 'tough love' boundaries because of some sort of family conflict? Pure speculation. JMO

 

[Dotta]

I think she was only going for 10 days???

 

[Observe_dont_Absorb]

I think she was only going for 10 days???

Maybe. There's some speculation on this forum that perhaps she was hoping to leave the area, what with her social media posts about being unhappy with her environment (I paraphrase).
I'd imagine like any hopeful teenager going to see her childhood sweetheart, she maybe hoped for more from that relationship and a way out?

Maybe they'd all met up prior her actual leaving morning anyway. Even if for a short trip, it's an adventure for someone only 17 and I'm sure they'd have wanted to chat about it and wish her well. JMO

 

[Observe_dont_Absorb]

Pheobe Bishop's lover breaks silence, reveals tragedy took them apart

Pheobe, 17, vanished en route from her hometown of Gin Gin in central Queensland, to visit her high school sweetheart, Levi, 18, in Western Australia on May 15.

www.dailymail.co.uk

Rick said Levi is still too traumatised by Pheobe's loss - but said the family wanted to pay tribute to the special bond between the lovestruck teenagers.

'Levi absolutely adored Pheobe,' he said.

Rick revealed the tragedy is the second devastating heartbreak to hit the family after Levi lost his mother in a car crash in Bundaberg just four years ago - a tragedy that prompted the family to move across the country.
They would video chat all night, every night, falling asleep - and then they would tell each other who was sleep-talking the next day,' Rick told Daily Mail Australia.

'It was a bit cute.'

The father-of-six said the couple had been excited for weeks about their reunion and were busily planning out every detail.

'Levi had bought Pheobe a Canon camera worth $1000 because she wanted to get into photography,' he said.

'A week before she was supposed to land, Levi had packed the 4WD up with camping gear.

'He had planned a trip to Esperance in WA, camping on the beach with Pheobe.

'They were both really excited about that.

Devastating
So close to a fresh start and bright future.

 

[MathildaM]

The article says police confirm that telecommunications data let them to the site her alleged remains were found - could that be a teaching device the police put on their cars?

They have said they haven’t found her phone.

I say alleged remains as not yet DNA confirmed.

 

[MathildaM]

I find it a fascinating case study, why did they move there from areas with better and more access to resources for support and care, accomodation, cost of living etc.
I wonder how many support services similar to "Smileys" were active in Gin Gin prior to it being started.

If they are in Perth there would be more resources as it is a city whereas Gin Gin / Bundaberg are regional / rural towns. Perth is an urban city, the capital of WA.

NDIS support services are everywhere. Gin Gin is a small town & had one.