Human remains have been found in the search for 17-year-old Pheobe Bishop, three weeks after she went missing.
Pheobe was last seen on May 15 when she was dropped off near Bundaberg Regional Airport in Queensland, Australia, around 8:30AM.
She was reportedly en route to visit her high-school sweetheart in Perth, but never checked in for her flight, and CCTV later confirmed she never entered the airport, per PEOPLE.
On Friday, June 6, police confirmed: “Police have located what is believed to be human remains following a search of an area near Good Night Scrub National Park near Gin Gin this afternoon.”
“The brief search commenced after further enquiries and investigations today, with the discovery being made by specialist units around 2:30PM [local time],” they added. “The remains are yet to be formally identified; however, investigators are in contact with the family of missing 17-year-old Pheobe Bishop.”
“A crime scene has been declared at the location and forensic examinations are continuing,” police said.
Queensland Police are continuing to appeal for any information related to Pheobe’s disappearance or the movement of a grey Hyundai IX35 between May 15 to 18 in the greater Gin Gin area, per the Sun.
Following the discovery, Pheobe’s devastated mother Kylie Johnson took to Facebook: “I didn’t think my heart could break anymore then it did when you went missing, or when the charges where laid but this! This is ripping me apart…”
Johnson also praised her daughter Kaylea for speaking out in the wake of the tragedy. “Kaylea your strength, determination and dedication to bring Phee Phee home is such a reflection of your fierce love for your sister.”
Just one day prior to the grim discovery, two of Pheobe’s housemates—James Wood, 34, and Tanika Kristan Bromley, 33—were arrested and charged in connection to her death. Both have been charged with one count of murder and two counts of interfering with a corpse.
According to Queensland Police, Pheobe’s body had been moved “more than once,” and investigators believe it was at one point located in Good Night Scrub National Park before being relocated. The remains were found in an area close to the park.
Detective Inspector Craig Mansfield said hours before the discovery: “We are suspecting we may locate Pheobe, but it is a broad, unforgiving area that we’re trying to narrow down.”
Mansfield later stated: “Our evidence will outline the fact that three people arrived near to the airport, and three people never exited that vehicle.”
Shocking footage released Friday showed the dramatic arrest of Wood, who appeared disheveled and barefoot as he was escorted from what is believed to be his parents’ RV in Bundaberg.
A police officer told him, “Just listen to me,” before saying, “I’m placing you under arrest for the homicide of Pheobe Bishop.”
Wood had previously spoken to Daily Mail Australia about the day Pheobe went missing, just hours before his arrest.
He claimed Pheobe was “furious” for sleeping through her alarm and missing her flight, and that he and Bromley had taken her to the airport.
“We just wanted to get her checked in and thought if we can just get there she will calm down,” Wood said.
He told the outlet that they stopped the car on Airport Drive, just over half a mile from the terminal.
“We wanted to give her five minutes — give her her own space to do what she needed to do. We walked to the end, it was maybe five minutes, maybe it was three minutes or maybe it was eight but that’s about how long we were gone.”
When they returned, Wood claimed, Pheobe and her bag were gone. They assumed she had boarded her flight.
But according to police, that’s not what happened.
The Gin Gin house where Pheobe lived with Wood and Bromley has been declared a crime scene, as has the grey Hyundai ix35 central to the investigation.
Bromley had previously been arrested after police allegedly discovered a shortened firearm, ammunition, and two replica handguns in the vehicle.
They also discovered a painted and taped-over number plate on the car the day before her arrest.