Australia Australia - Pheobe Bishop, 17, failed to board a scheduled flight from a Queensland Airport. Last seen Airport Drive, Bundaberg, 15 May 2025

[MathildaM]

Have just caught up and didn't see this article come up in the thread (might have missed it) from the Courier Mail:

https://www.couriermail.com.au/truecrimeaustralia/police-courts-qld/shock-find-as-pheobe-bishops-flatmates-hyundai-spotted-in-bundaberg/news-story/0ac6f23cbb2d03aa221ae87030f6ab8f

Paraphrasing:

A Hyundai ix35 linked to the disappearance of 17-year-old PB, who went missing on May 15 in Bundaberg, was found on Monday with altered number plates. The car, owned by Bishop’s flatmate TB, had its original Queensland plate (414 EW3) modified with tape and paint to appear as a NSW plate (474 BW8), and the Hyundai symbol changed to a Toyota one.

View attachment 588895

View attachment 588896


View attachment 588897

Seriously that NSW in red & such dodgy lettering, plus the car logo kindergarten like hack, coupled with let’s stash guns (again) in the car the police are absolutely going to tear apart, they must have 1 brain cell between them, and that’s being kind.

 

[scepticalscotty]

Wow what a terrible job. Especially the "NSW" part.

Funnily enough, this half-arsed attempt at deception leads me to question my most plausible theory that PB met with foul play prior to her departure date and a series of cover-up events played out. A person that thinks this number plate would fool anybody is obviously not a calculated master of deceit. Minor detail but I sincerely doubt these people lack the intellect to conduct a mastermind plan. I'm leaning towards a spontaneous incident that resulted in an immediate reaction.

 

[essareem]

Mmm literally nobody innocent would do this.

I can imagine they would. I'm not saying they are innocent, I'm just playing devil's advocate.

JW social media had several hundred angry comments from the public on it before he locked it down. Fair amount of those comments included threats of physical harm and death, even r*pe.

If by some insane circumstance they were innocent, they'd be pretty scared to face the public.

 

[nf987]

Seriously that NSW in red & such dodgy lettering, plus the car logo kindergarten like hack, coupled with let’s stash guns (again) in the car the police are absolutely going to tear apart, they must have 1 brain cell between them, and that’s being kind.

And even that isn't functional.

 

[essareem]

Seriously that NSW in red & such dodgy lettering, plus the car logo kindergarten like hack, coupled with let’s stash guns (again) in the car the police are absolutely going to tear apart, they must have 1 brain cell between them, and that’s being kind.

Yes, it feels wrong to laugh at anything in this case, but that really takes the cake. I can't believe it, it's just too ridiculous.

 

[Budgetdetective]

TV

Wow, this is unsettling - a still taken from a video of JW at a "ute muster" video on the DT.

https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/queensland/flatmate-of-missing-teen-pheobe-bishop-in-video/video/de7a8f5971e41fa64294b946cb74bbda

 

[Budgetdetective]

I have no doubt in my mind that it’s him, <modsnip>, kills pigs with knives for fun, allegedly killed his pig dogs, I hope they throw the book at him.

 

[MathildaM]

Yes, it feels wrong to laugh at anything in this case, but that really takes the cake. I can't believe it, it's just too ridiculous.

Agree. About the only thing they’ve got right (if it’s them) is the length of time it’s taking to find her. Question for the locals, I have heard comments about a high likelihood the police will find illicit crops whilst searching. Could this be true?

If so they might be familiar with an off the beaten track place for the immediate ‘what do we do’ and then later moved her?

 

[Beekarina]

Has Pheobe's boyfriend shared any information about the conversation they had that morning? I am certain he has with LE, just wondering if we know anything about the content/duration of the conversation between the two? Or is this all under wraps?

 

[Beekarina]

To be fair, her boyfriend is a similarly aged peer, and moved away after high school, correct?

I agree with you about adults in her life letting her down, but I don't think we can fairly call out another young person, or random staff at a grocery store, who may also be young and/or struggling. It does sound like the grocery store employees extended kindness as they were able by covering Pheobe when she was short. I'm not sure what they were to have done as she is 17, not 7, you know? I'm not in Australia, but I know in the US it's more than grey area is you were to report a struggling 17 year-old. I hate to say it, but I don't think people would care as much as they might a young child. A lot of teens fall through the cracks.

 

[sapphire blue]

I can imagine they would. I'm not saying they are innocent, I'm just playing devil's advocate.

JW social media had several hundred angry comments from the public on it before he locked it down. Fair amount of those comments included threats of physical harm and death, even r*pe.

If by some insane circumstance they were innocent, they'd be pretty scared to face the public.

Innocent people have zero reason to attempt to hide their registration, let alone try to hide their registration with a poor attempt to make it look like an interstate plate AND try to hide their vehicles logo. add his change of social media handle, her arrest on more weapons and explosives charges plus his faux outrage at being asked if he’d done her in etc - anyone with an ounce of common sense knows and understands that the first person/people to be questioned are those who were the last known people to see the missing person, eliminating those people first is a necessity. If you can’t eliminate them then they have a problem.

Only a matter of time IMO

 

[Racin74]

How was she let down by her boyfriend? He lives 4,400km away from her - what was he supposed to do?

<modsnip: Not victim friendly>

A girl that couldn’t feed herself and looked disheveled like she didn’t belong to locals… it’s not looking good for PB. Flights from Bundaberg to Perth are just under $500 each way.. $1k just for flights is a lot of coin for someone on the bones of their arse that can’t afford food. .. JMO

 

[Aussieboy]

To be fair, her boyfriend is a similarly aged peer, and moved away after high school, correct?

I agree with you about adults in her life letting her down, but I don't think we can fairly call out another young person, or random staff at a grocery store, who may also be young and/or struggling. It does sound like the grocery store employees extended kindness as they were able by covering Pheobe when she was short. I'm not sure what they were to have done as she is 17, not 7, you know? I'm not in Australia, but I know in the US it's more than grey area is you were to report a struggling 17 year-old. I hate to say it, but I don't think people would care as much as they might a young child. A lot of teens fall through the cracks.

I come from close to the area where this happened, but not the exact town, and I can say that a good part of the problems with youth are related to drug issues. In small towns like this, if it's a really bad family, most people will not intervene because they might do something really bad to you or even a family member. LE can't even do anything often because they're so underfunded in these small towns, and sadly, it usually takes a death for something to be done. I believe PB was approximately 180cm tall, so many may have thought PB was much older than they were.

 

[TMich6811]

<modsnip: Not victim friendly>
A girl that couldn’t feed herself and looked disheveled like she didn’t belong to locals… it’s not looking good for PB. Flights from Bundaberg to Perth are just under $500 each way.. $1k just for flights is a lot of coin for someone on the bones of their arse that can’t afford food. .. JMO

Which makes all of this make even less sense

 

[Tealgrove]

<modsnip: Not victim friendly>
A girl that couldn’t feed herself and looked disheveled like she didn’t belong to locals… it’s not looking good for PB. Flights from Bundaberg to Perth are just under $500 each way.. $1k just for flights is a lot of coin for someone on the bones of their arse that can’t afford food. .. JMO

I agree. The pieces are not falling together.

I have a hard time reconciling her living arrangement. This couple are called her housemates and/or flatmates. To me that implies an understanding of an equal relationship in the household. Shared expenses, chores etc.

She’s 17! Is she paying rent? Contributing financially somehow? Does she have a job? Who paid for the plane ticket?

I get that she had a fight with her mother and got kicked out. Did she call the couple and ask to stay there? Did they just offer? What were the terms of this arrangement? Were they supporting her?

A lot is missing for me to make sense.

MOO

 

[Racin74]

I come from close to the area where this happened, but not the exact town, and I can say that a good part of the problems with youth are related to drug issues. In small towns like this, if it's a really bad family, most people will not intervene because they might do something really bad to you or even a family member. LE can't even do anything often because they're so underfunded in these small towns, and sadly, it usually takes a death for something to be done. I believe PB was approximately 180cm tall, so many may have thought PB was much older than they were.

Thank you for the insight. I live in the city and I guess things are dealt with differently than small towns. Still not acceptable but understandable. It’s 2025 FFS why is this still happening in the “developed” world? Breaks my heart these children are still falling through the cracks of our messed up society.
PB my thoughts are with you, wherever you may be. I hope you are found soon and don’t have to be alone any longer sweet girl xxxx

 

[Aussieboy]

I agree. The pieces are not falling together.

I have a hard time reconciling her living arrangement. This couple are called her housemates and/or flatmates. To me that implies an understanding of an equal relationship in the household. Shared expenses, chores etc.

She’s 17! Is she paying rent? Contributing financially somehow? Does she have a job? Who paid for the plane ticket?

I get that she had a fight with her mother and got kicked out. Did she call the couple and ask to stay there? Did they just offer? What were the terms of this arrangement? Were they supporting her?

A lot is missing for me to make sense.

MOO

You can get Govt benefits with rental assistance in Australia at that age.

 

[Racin74]

I agree. The pieces are not falling together.

I have a hard time reconciling her living arrangement. This couple are called her housemates and/or flatmates. To me that implies an understanding of an equal relationship in the household. Shared expenses, chores etc.

She’s 17! Is she paying rent? Contributing financially somehow? Does she have a job? Who paid for the plane ticket?

I get that she had a fight with her mother and got kicked out. Did she call the couple and ask to stay there? Did they just offer? What were the terms of this arrangement? Were they supporting her?

A lot is missing for me to make sense.

MOO

I’m feeling the same. I think she was supposed to do something she didn’t want to and an argument ensued and it’s kicked off in the car and didn’t end well for PB. Sadly.
I’m hoping I’m wrong

 

[TMich6811]

Is there a known connection between the boyfriend and the room mates?

Supposed to travel with something she didn’t want to?

 

[Racin74]

You can get Govt benefits with rental assistance in Australia at that age.

Yes but it’s hardly enough to live, let alone pay for any illicit substances you may be addicted to. I work with these children. It’s like they are wrecked before they even get a chance to thrive.