The family of missing teenager Pheobe Bishop has issued a statement, describing the teenager as “sassy”, “feisty” and “strong-willed”, as police continue their search for the 17-year-old in bushland near Bundaberg.
Forensic police collected items from an area near Goodnight Scrub National Park as part of the investigation.
The painstaking search has already lasted several days, and is expected to continue on Sunday.
Forensic police have collected items from bushland, west of Bundaberg. (ABC: Nic Coleman)
Pheobe was last seen at Airport Drive with her luggage on the morning of May 15, but never made it into Bundaberg Airport, where she was booked to catch a flight to Western Australia.
Police divers and volunteers for the State Emergency Service have been assisting in the search of dense bushland in the national park.
Yesterday, they were seen removing items from the bush.
Police have been searching the area of Goodnight Scrub National Park since the teenager went missing. (ABC: Nic Coleman)
Police have not confirmed what the brown evidence bags contained, or whether it was linked to Pheobe’s disappearance.
A property at Gin Gin, where Pheobe lived with two other people, was earlier declared a crime scene.
The teenager’s family is still holding onto hope she will be found.
Disappearance of Pheobe Bishop
‘We need her home’
In a statement on behalf of Pheobe’s family, her mother, Kelly Johnson, described her as someone who is “strong-willed and [has] followed her own beat to life.”
“Phee is the sunflower in a field full of wildflowers. She is an essential part of our lives and we need her home.
“We need to hear her music, feel her hugs and hear her voice.
“You can’t tame Phee’s spirit, empathy or fight for life. She is sassy, feisty and loves harder than anyone I’ve ever meet.”
Pheobe Bishop’s mother, Kylie Johnson, posted to social media that her “heart was shattered”. (Supplied: Kylie Johnson)
Her mother said Pheobe would never go this long without contacting anyone.
“We are appealing to anyone who may have heard from Phoebe, or anyone who has information about where she may be, to please contact police.”
Police have asked anyone with CCTV footage or dash-cam vision of the Goodnight Scrub area on, or about, May 15 to come forward.
Volunteers from the SES have been assisting police with the search. (ABC: Nic Coleman)