Second housemate of missing teen charged with weapons offences

A second housemate of missing Queensland teenager Pheobe Bishop has been charged with unrelated weapons offences following a police search last week.

Pheobe, 17, was living with two housemates at a property in Gin Gin, southwest of Bundaberg, when she was last seen on May 15.

She was supposed to fly from Bundaberg to Brisbane before catching another flight to Western Australia where she would meet up with her boyfriend.

However, the teenager failed to board her flight and has not been seen since.

James Wood, 34, has been issued with a notice to appear in the Bundaberg Magistrates Court on June 13.

He is facing one count each of unlawful possession of weapons and unauthorised possession of explosives.

Police allege a shortened firearm and ammunition were found during a search of a grey Hyundai ix35 and a property in Gin Gin. Both the vehicle and the house were declared crime scenes as part of the ongoing investigation into Pheobe’s disappearance.

However, authorities have confirmed there is no indication the weapons charges are linked to the missing person case.

Earlier this week, fellow housemate Tanika Bromley, 33, was granted bail on similar weapons charges.

Detective Acting Inspector Ryan Thompson said on Tuesday that the grey Hyundai, previously seized and examined by police, had since been returned to Ms Bromley.

“A number of examinations were conducted on that vehicle and items seized, and that has since been released by police,” Inspector Thompson said.

The new charges come as Pheobe’s aunt revealed a series of disturbing text messages her 17-year-old niece sent in the weeks before she vanished.

Caz Johnson, Pheobe’s mother’s sister, appeared on The Project on Wednesday night and revealed the teenager messaged her in late April after a period of silence, describing her desire for a move.

“Up sh*t creek but sh*t happens,” Pheobe wrote on April 26.

“I’m flying the f**k out of here to see my boyfriend.

“If it goes to plan I’m not coming back.”

Ms Johnson told The Project that she was “puzzled” by the messages and felt something serious was going on.

“It was like something’s really happening,” she said.

Ms Johnson, who is estranged from her sister Kylie Johnson, said Pheobe had endured a difficult upbringing.

“She was always changing schools. She had so many different stepdads in and out of her life. She never had no one that she could really speak to,” she said.

When asked if she believed Pheobe would be found, Ms Johnson was blunt.

“Honestly, I don’t know, but I’m certain she won’t be found alive,” she said.

Pheobe’s boyfriend has also revealed the chilling final call he received before she disappeared.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, Pheobe’s boyfriend said he received a call from her as she was en route to the airport.

However, he explained that he couldn’t hear anything Pheobe was saying on the other end of the line before the call was cut off.

The boyfriend said he waited at Perth Airport for several hours for Pheobe to arrive, but she never did.

He later told his friends that he didn’t realise anything was wrong, posting on social media, “Maybe I deserve all the pain I am feeling right now, I mean it is my fault, I should have done better.

“Me staring at her dry texts wondering if I did something wrong and not asking cuz I don’t wanna be annoying.”

Pheobe’s housemates Tamika Bromley and her partner James Wood told detectives they drove the teenager to the airport in Ms Bromley’s grey Hyundai ix35; however, police believe Pheobe never arrived at Bundaberg Airport as she failed to check in for her flight.

The Hyundai was later seized by detectives as part of the investigation, with the Gin Gin property being declared a crime scene.

During the search of the vehicle and house where the teenager was last seen, police located a shortened firearm and ammunition.

Mr Wood, 34, was charged with one count of unlawful possession of weapons (short firearm) and authority to possess explosives.

He was issued with a notice to appear at Bundaberg Magistrates Court on June 13.

Ms Bromley faced court over unrelated weapons charges, including possessing or acquiring restricted items, unlawful possession of weapons, and two counts of failing to hold the required authority to possess explosives.

There is no suggestion the charges are linked to Pheobe’s disappearance. Nor is there any suggestion Mr Wood or Ms Bromley played any part in her disappearance.

Ms Bromley was granted bail on Tuesday after appearing on video link at Bundaberg Magistrates Court.

She was seen in public for the first time on Wednesday after being driven to Gin Gin police station and escorted out as part of her bail conditions.

Police will continue to investigate Pheobe’s disappearance but called off the search in Good Night Scrub National Park after five days.

The search expanded to the national park after police found evidence may have moved from the area prior to their arrival.

“In addition to investigative work, physical searches will continue as needed and as information is provided,” a police spokesperson said on Wednesday.

“The greater Gin Gin area remains the focus of the investigation.”

Police told NewsWire there were no further updates regarding Pheobe’s disappearance.