Phoebe Bishop’s housemate was caught on a dating app by his girlfriend in the lead up to the teenager’s mysterious disappearance two weeks ago.
Pheobe, 17, was last seen on May 15 when James Wood, 34, and Tanika Bromley, 33, gave her a lift to the airport from their ramshackle home in Gin Gin, near Bundaberg, central Queensland.
Phoebe told friends she was leaving the ‘hellhole’ living arrangements – as she branded it – to be with her high school sweetheart in Western Australia.
The housemates told police they dropped the teen off at Bundaberg Airport in Bromley’s 2011 grey Hyundai ix35 hatchback.
But Pheobe never checked into her flight and no CCTV of her at the airport has been found.
Now Daily Mail Australia can reveal that in February, Wood had been spotted on Tinder looking for ‘short term fun’, prompting Bromley’s friends to intervene.
In the profile photo, Wood can be seen in a cowboy hat and aviator sunglasses and wearing a hi-viz tradie’s work shirt with the logo obscured.
It also states that he is 34 years old.
‘Everyone had been telling Tanika he was cheating,’ a friend of the former NDIS support services worker confirmed.
Wood was spotted on Tinder looking for ‘short term fun,’ behind his girlfriend’s back prompting concerned friends to intervene.
Pheobe was last seen on May 15 leaving the rundown house she shared with housemates James Wood and Tanika Bromley (pictured) in Gin Gin, near Bundaberg.
‘When her mates found his profile and he denied it they listed it online in one of those ‘Sis, is this your man,’ Facebook groups to see if anyone had been with him.
‘People came forward too, but even with all the proof, she decided to stay with him.’
It is unknown why Pheobe was at the house or how long she had been there.
Prior to her disappearance, she told her aunt Caz Johnson she was ‘up s*** creek,’ and couldn’t wait to leave.
Pheobe claimed her mother, Kylie Johnson, had told her to ‘get out’ of the family home.
She also messaged a friend to say she was heading away to see her boyfriend for 10 days.
‘I take off to WA in three days! Get out of this s*** home for a bit so that will be good, just packing atm [at the moment].’
Both the Gin Gin house and the Hyundai were sealed off by police and combed over by forensics experts. Up to 11 dead dogs were reportedly removed from the rubbish-strewn yard.
The housemates have since been charged with unrelated weapons offences after police impounded the car and allegedly discovered a shortened firearm, two replica handguns and ammunition in the car.
Bromley’s strict bail conditions include a curfew and that she not see Wood.
Prior to her disappearance she told her Aunt Caz Johnson she was ‘up s**t creek,’ and couldn’t wait to leave after her mum, Kylie Johnson had told her to ‘get out,’ of the family home.
Both the Gin Gin house and the Hyundai were sealed off police and combed over by forensic experts, with up to 11 dead dogs reportedly removed from the rubbish strewn yard.
Police have now released the car and Wood appears to be living in it with at least one dog, after Daily Mail Australia found them sleeping inside the car in a nearby street.
He was also filmed and confronted by an angry local, with video later posted online.
Last week, days after the teen went missing, Wood posted a bizarre, two-minute video of himself lounging back in the driver’s seat.
Heavily filtered, Wood lip-syncs to the 2017 love song Perfect by Ed Sheeran, dramatically closing his eyes and then biting the silver chain around his neck.
When lyrics mention ‘listening to our favourite song,’ Wood looks emotionally at the camera tapping his heart.
‘Well, I found a woman, stronger than anyone I know,’ he croons along with the song.
‘She shares my dreams, I hope that someday, I’ll share her home.
‘I found a love to carry more than just my secrets.
When lyrics mention ‘listening to our favourite song,’ Wood looks emotionally at the camera tapping his heart.
Heavily filtered, Wood lip-syncs to the love song Perfect by Ed Sheeran, dramatically closing his eyes and then biting the silver chain around his neck.
‘To carry love, to carry children of our own.’
The car appears to be parked alongside bushland with only grass and trees visible from the windows.
He also posted a single black and white selfie with the words: ‘Let it never be said I’m not where I need to be on time.’
No charges have been laid over Pheobe’s disappearance and it is not suggested that Bromley and Wood were involved in her disappearance.
The police investigation into her disappearance continues.
