Australian teenager Phoebe Bishop, 17, mysteriously vanished from Bundaberg Airport on May 15, leaving behind poignant social media posts that have since drawn widespread attention amid an ongoing search effort.
In her last online expressions, Ms. Bishop shared reflections on her challenging family dynamics and personal journey. She openly questioned her relationship with her mother, writing, "Do me and mum get along and did we finally make her proud?" Her own response hinted at estrangement: "She will never be proud. We don't see or talk to her, but it's better like this." She also noted having lived away from home for years and remarked that her siblings had "all moved out" and were leading "different lives."
Another social media post on TikTok revealed a darker tone, where she said, "When I die, get my dad to lower my coffin so he can let me down one last time." These posts underscore the personal struggles Phoebe was enduring prior to her disappearance.
Phoebe’s mother, Kylie Johnson, expressed deep anguish over her daughter's absence in a heartfelt message. She shared, "It's getting harder to breathe without you, not knowing where you are. We miss you terribly and would do anything to hear your voice and hold you close again." She called on the local community of Gin Gin to provide any information, emphasizing even the smallest details could aid in bringing Phoebe home.
Authorities revealed that prior to going missing, Phoebe was staying with two acquaintances in Gin Gin and was not living with her immediate family. In March, she posted a TikTok video expressing feelings of disconnect, stating, "I'm not built for this town; these aren't my people."
On the day of her disappearance, Phoebe was dropped off at the airport by her housemates, set to board a flight from Bundaberg to Brisbane and onwards to Perth to visit her boyfriend. However, she never boarded the flight, prompting an extensive search continuing into its ninth day.
Detective Ryan Thompson confirmed the ongoing investigation and urged anyone with information, regardless of perceived importance, to come forward to assist in locating Phoebe Bishop.
