Pictured: The fisherman charged with interfering with police investigation into Pheobe Bishop's alleged murder
Police charged 30-year-old Kieren Daniel Mittelheuser with two counts of accessory after the fact to murder, alleging he used Ms Bishop's mobile phone to interfere with investigations.
Mittelheuser was taken into custody outside a local fast food outlet in Bundaberg West, in south east Queensland, around 7pm on Tuesday.
The arrest occurred one day after family and friends farewelled the 17-year-old at a private service.
He has also been charged with drug possession, driving while disqualified, failing to appear, breaching bail and fraud.
The fraud charge refers to the use of a credit card that is linked to the accessory after the fact charge, Bundaberg paper NewsMail reported.
Mittelheuser is a father but is not believed to have lived with his child recently. He appeared nonchalant on his social media, posting a day before the teenager's remains were found that he didn't care whether his foot hung off the bed or not.
Ms Bishop was last seen near Bundaberg airport about 8.30am on May 15 after booking a trip to Western Australia to see her boyfriend.
A massive search was launched in the park by authorities who traced Ms Bishop's phone there
Queensland Police allege that housemates, Tanika Bromley and James Wood, drove her close to the airport in a grey Hyundai, but no one left the car.
She was allegedly murdered and her body was moved more than once from the Good Night Scrub National Park, an hour's drive from the airport.
Phone data led officers to the national park where her remains were found on June 6.
Wood, 34, and Bromley, 33, remain behind bars and will front court on August 11, charged with murder and interfering with a corpse.
Mittelheuser did not appear in person but instead dialled in by phone for his court mention on Wednesday.
Mark Zeller, a solicitor with Indigo Law, acted as duty lawyer.
He did not apply for bail and no pleas have been entered.
Mittelheuser will next appear in court via video link on August 25.
Multiple candlelit vigils attended by hundreds have been held across Bundaberg and Gin Gin in recent weeks, remembering how Ms Bishop lived life to the fullest.
Six weeks after Ms Bishop disappeared, family and friends laid the 'free-spirited' teen to rest while donning bright colours at a service on Monday.
None of those alleged to be involved with her murder have yet entered any pleas.
Ms Bishop was reported missing in late May, prompting a wide search of bushland and the home she shared with Bromley and Wood.
Wood was taken into custody first on June 6 where he has been assisting police with their inquiries.
Bromley was taken into custody soon after where she was charged with the same offences as Wood.
The pair are each facing one count each of murder, and two counts each of interfering with a corpse.
Police allege Ms Bishop was killed, her body transported in a grey Hyundai, and moved twice before being buried in remote national parkland.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
Two murder probes launched as police searching for missing man find someone else's body in remote UK village
COPS have launched two murder probes after a search for a missing man ended with the force making another horror find. Detectives arrested a man and woman on suspicion of murder while investigating a disappearance in Stricker, near St Austell in Cornwall. Initial enquiries on Monday led to the arrest of a 39-year-old man on suspicion of fraud, said Devon and Cornwall Police. However, further information revealed during a search led to his re-arrest for murder. A woman in her 30s, from the Newquay area, was also arrested on suspicion of murder, with both suspects remaining in police custody. But at around 6pm on Tuesday, officers were called to a wooded area between Truro and Probus where the body of a deceased man in his 40s was found. Formal identification has now been completed and it has been confirmed that the body is not that of the man who is the subject of the initial missing person investigation. However, police say his death is currently being treated as suspicious, and will form part of a separate murder investigation. Detective Superintendent Jon Bancroft said: "While our enquiries are at an early stage, we believe these are separate investigations which are not linked. "Detectives from the Major Crime Investigation Team will be considering all possible lines of enquiry and members of the public should be reassured every available resource is being utilised to do so. "There will be an increased police presence in the area and, if people in our communities have concerns, please share them with us." Detective Inspector Neil Blanchard, from the Major Crime Investigation Team, added: "We appreciate how the unique circumstances surrounding these investigations may be causing the public concern. "The discovery of a body, the day after a male suspect was arrested, has proven to be unrelated to the initial missing person investigation. "The circumstances around the death of the man whose body was found will now be investigated separately. "There is nothing to indicate any risk to the public and we are asking the people not to speculate online as the investigation continues." 1
The Sun
2 hours ago
- The Sun
Three men in early 20s arrested after woman sexually assaulted in park as cops step up patrols
COPS have arrested three men after a woman was allegedly sexual assaulted in a park. Police launched an investigation after the incident at Sutton Lawn park in Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, between 9pm and 10pm on June 29. Nottinghamshire Police says all the men arrested are in their 20s and have been released on conditional bail whilst investigations continue. Two men, aged 23 and 24, were arrested on suspicion of rape, said the force. Cops confirmed that a 21-year-old man was also arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender. Patrols have been increased in the area and specially trained officers continue to support the victim. Detective Sergeant Liam Cowan, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: 'Specialist officers were immediately deployed to support the victim while detectives carried out inquiries to understand exactly what happened. 'These arrests are an important development in the investigation and the victim has been kept fully informed. 'We also understand the wider concern within the community following any incident of this nature. 'Neighbourhood officers will continue their patrols in the area to offer support when needed. 'Despite the arrests our investigation is ongoing and we would urge anyone with information, or relevant CCTV, doorbell, dashcam or mobile phone footage, to get in touch without delay.' 1
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Man charged with domestic violence offences is a government employee
A senior digital health adviser to the federal government has been identified as the man with the alleged assault of two women. Daniel McCluskie, 44, was charged with 15 domestic violence-related offences spanning a three-year period after officers descended on a home on Sibbick Street in Russell Lea, in Sydney 's inner west, about 7am on Wednesday. In video of his dramatic arrest, he was seen wearing grey tracksuit pants and ugg boots as he was bustled out of the home and into a waiting paddy wagon. His alleged offences include eight counts of sexual intercourse without consent and three counts of choking without consent. Police allege McCluskie carried out a slew of DV offences including kidnapping between 2021 and 2023 against a 35-year-old woman. He also allegedly choked a 52-year-old woman he met on a dating app last March. McCluskie's charges also include two counts of stalking and intimidation, intentionally recording an intimate image without consent, and detaining a person with intent to obtain advantage. The 44-year-old is listed as a digital health adviser for the Australian Digital Health Agency, a Commonwealth entity designed to oversee the national e-health system. The government agency told 7News it was aware of the 'serious charges' against 'a Daniel McCluskie'. 'As this is an active police matter, we are unable to comment,' it said on Thursday. 'We note that Digital Health Advisers are not employees of the Agency.' McCluskie was granted bail in Parramatta Local Court on Thursday but will need to adhere to a series of strict bail conditions, including wearing an ankle monitor. He was asked to forfeit his passport and is banned from leaving New South Wales or entering any international port of departure from Australia. McCluskie will also be bound by a strict curfew of 8pm to 5am, report to a police station three times a week and refrain from contacting prosecution witnesses except via his representation. He returns to Parramatta Local Court on September 10. Investigations under Strike Force Brandum are continuing.
