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

[Mercina]

Although, the police would have come out and said the plate number is this but could have been this? If they’re appealing for information on the car, they’d want to make sure they had given the public both plate numbers and makes?
Possibly they changed it once they received the car back? Maybe the car has been cleared as a crime scene and returned to TB & JW and they have changed it so they don’t get harassed.
Just another opinion- as i previously mentioned, there’s different types of crime scenes and in missing cases, the last place known can be deemed a crime scene until investigations are done.
JMO

I think you are on the right track, the courier Mail article was dated Monday 26th May, and it said the car was spotted in bunderberg on Monday with altered plates, so to me it seems police released the vehicle and TB and JW have the subsequently altered the plates

 

[Teche]

DBM

 

[quiza]

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.

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Oh dear

 

[quiza]

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

I'd add, from my experience, it's fairly normalised to move out of home in late high school and/or after high school particularly in small towns. I wouldn't assume this indicates PB was neglected by her parents or loved ones.

 

[Dotta]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1927129668517294275

 

[ThePineapple]

I think you are on the right track, the courier Mail article was dated Monday 26th May, and it said the car was spotted in bunderberg on Monday with altered plates, so to me it seems police released the vehicle and TB and JW have the subsequently altered the plates

If so, this could mean the car is cleared as a crime scene, which means they didn’t find signs of a struggle/blood or even possibly signs of debris from being in the scrub. So could possibly be a good sign but then where is she and what vehicle has she been transported in?

 

[Bigditch]

There are CCTV through Bundaberg town and surrounds, including Gin Gin. I don't know the area to map them, or understand the route into Bundaberg from Gin Gin (or to the state forests they have been searching), but I would be confident the car has been seen on the Council CCTV and possibly shops, residences, service stations etc. That supports that the police know the car was heading to the airport and in the vicinity of Airport Drive (not covered by CCTV) and likely tracked back through the town, giving them an idea of any time 'gap' between movements away from the airport, back home to Gin Gin and then...

What the CCTV might not have shown is if PB was in the car, keeping in mind she had recently dyed her hair the same colour as TB. Hence, the requests for dash cam footage to determine what happened on Airport Drive, but also the car occupants.

I think the BF call is solid, there is no reason for him to lie, and there would be evidence of the contact on his phone. Given that it is consistently referred to as a call, I think it wasn't a text and he heard her voice. If he heard her voice around 8.30am, then she was in the car somewhere near the airport.

A few people have mentioned waste tips, I don't know what tips are in Bundaberg and Gin Gin but there are some waste management CCTV sites (these might be tips?).

https://formstmp.bundaberg.qld.gov.au/RG-7-074.pdf

Do we know that the pic of Pheobe with red hair is the most recent? Just wondering about what the (cashier) said, if the image she described is reflected in the photo. Thanks

 

[ThePineapple]

Two copters heading north from Sunny coast - this MAY not be relevant however could be related.
Hopefully these are reinforcements and we might see a bigger operation today?

 

[BreakingNews]

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.

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That's not very sophisticated.

 

[ThePineapple]

Back to Boolboonda

 

[BreakingNews]

I'd add, from my experience, it's fairly normalised to move out of home in late high school and/or after high school particularly in small towns. I wouldn't assume this indicates PB was neglected by her parents or loved ones.

Not so much these days. With the cost of living and housing unaffordable, kids are staying at home much longer.

More young adults living with parents than ever before

A new report by the Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS) has found that young people are increasingly living with their parents well into their late teens and early twenties.

aifs.gov.au

 

[findmollie]

I'd add, from my experience, it's fairly normalised to move out of home in late high school and/or after high school particularly in small towns. I wouldn't assume this indicates PB was neglected by her parents or loved ones.

I second this. In QLD, most graduate from high school at 17, sometimes 16 depending on when their birthday falls.

 

[findmollie]

Not so much these days. With the cost of living and housing unaffordable, kids are staying at home much longer.

More young adults living with parents than ever before

A new report by the Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS) has found that young people are increasingly living with their parents well into their late teens and early twenties.

aifs.gov.au

According to the article you linked, most don't. It's increased, yes, but the norm is to move out shortly after high school.

 

[MathildaM]

Embarrassed to ask, I have looked but cannot find it, how do I contact a Mod? I want to check if I can post something. Thank you

 

[Unalienable Rights]

Embarrassed to ask, I have looked but cannot find it, how do I contact a Mod? I want to check if I can post something. Thank you

Click on "Report" on any post (link is at the bottom of all posts) then type your message.

 

[Marg944]

If you tap on Report it will open a window that you can message a mod.

 

[MathildaM]

Thank you!!!!

 

[Liadan]

So they altered their licence plate and the car badge. These guys clearly have no clue. Pheobe didn't like the house because she wanted to leave. (Who could blame her it looks horrific...) Hmm, what went down that was so bad she couldn't go back to Mum? I bet police are all over the cell phone data, it would tell an interesting story.

 

[findmollie]

Sorry! I was meaning in the picture the police released appealing for information - which I believe was from the airport road.
By original I am meaning before the changes.

There are CCTV through Bundaberg town and surrounds, including Gin Gin. I don't know the area to map them, or understand the route into Bundaberg from Gin Gin (or to the state forests they have been searching), but I would be confident the car has been seen on the Council CCTV and possibly shops, residences, service stations etc. That supports that the police know the car was heading to the airport and in the vicinity of Airport Drive (not covered by CCTV) and likely tracked back through the town, giving them an idea of any time 'gap' between movements away from the airport, back home to Gin Gin and then...

What the CCTV might not have shown is if PB was in the car, keeping in mind she had recently dyed her hair the same colour as TB. Hence, the requests for dash cam footage to determine what happened on Airport Drive, but also the car occupants.

I think the BF call is solid, there is no reason for him to lie, and there would be evidence of the contact on his phone. Given that it is consistently referred to as a call, I think it wasn't a text and he heard her voice. If he heard her voice around 8.30am, then she was in the car somewhere near the airport.

A few people have mentioned waste tips, I don't know what tips are in Bundaberg and Gin Gin but there are some waste management CCTV sites (these might be tips?).

https://formstmp.bundaberg.qld.gov.au/RG-7-074.pdf

I took notice today as I was driving past and there are a few cameras along Airport Drive into Commercial Street (a possible exit). Between the service station on the corner of Takalvan St/Airport Drive and the Private Day Hospital on Commercial Street, I'd be surprised if the cameras didn't pick up a car travelling along that road. There's even a construction site next to the airport that likely has cameras (couldn't see any obvious cameras, but was driving so keeping my eyes on the road).

The police would know by now if PB made it to Airport Drive. They would at the very least, have the car entering Airport Drive and exiting, either back via Airport Drive towards Takalvan Street or via Commercial Street. They should know how many people were in the car arriving and leaving.

 

[quiza]

According to the article you linked, most don't. It's increased, yes, but the norm is to move out shortly after high school.

Agree, while it may be financially prohibitive particularly in big cities, it is culturally quite normal.