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A teenage boy has been arrested after the remains of a 13-year-old girl were found following a major search in north-west Victoria.
The small country community of Donald was in shock on Friday after police searching for local teenager Layla Jeffery announced they had discovered a body late on Thursday afternoon.
Police had arrested a 16-year-old boy from northern Victoria, Detective Inspector Dave Dunstan from the missing persons squad revealed on Friday afternoon.
“He was known to police,” Dunstan said.
“We are quietly confident that those responsible are in custody now. We don’t think there’s anyone else who may be involved in this situation. It is a tragic outcome for the Donald community.”
Police said two women, a 53-year-old from Donald and 55-year-old from Melbourne, were also assisting with inquiries. They have not been arrested.
An extensive search for Layla was launched around Donald – about 280 kilometres north-west of Melbourne – earlier this week after a relative reported her missing on Sunday.
Layla was last seen on McCracken Avenue on the town’s western edge on Saturday.
Police said they were scouring bushland west of Byrne Street – near the Richardson River that runs through Donald – when they found human remains.
“The remains are yet to be formally identified, but they are believed to be those of missing 13-year-old girl, Layla,” police said in a statement.
Dunstan said he believed Layla had been a student at the local secondary school and confirmed police had spoken with her family.
“They’re devastated,” he said. “And obviously, any parent who loses a child in these circumstances … it’s heart-wrenching as to how you would actually deal with this.”
Investigators continued to search for evidence in bushland around Donald on Friday afternoon and encouraged anyone with information about Layla’s disappearance to speak with them.
Dunstan declined to say whether police were looking for a weapon, or disclose how Layla was found.
“We’re obviously relying on the pathology examination to determine how long she’s potentially been there, and the time of death,” he said.
Buloke Shire councillor Charmaine Delaney said the Jeffery family had moved to the small town about year ago. She said Layla had spent time being homeschooled and was a quiet person who loved life.
“Donald is a small welcoming town. We are very closely knit. You walk past each other in the street and greet each other,” Delaney said.
“[Layla was] a very kind soul. She struck me as being a normal teenager.”
Delaney said news of Layla’s death hit the town like a tidal wave. “As people were being advised, they were standing there in shock,” she said.
John McConville, chairman of Donald’s progress association Donald 2000, said the huge police presence had been unnerving for the locals in the tight-knit town of 1500 people.
“People are just stunned it’s happened. There has been a police helicopter hovering over the crime scene around the river flats,” McConville said, referring to an area of bushland along the Richardson River which runs through the centre of town.
“It’s a huge concern … we feel for the mother, we’re all feeling the pain. What can we do, or what could we have done? This sort of kicks you in the belly a bit.”
Dunstan said the search this week included more than 50 officers, plus police dogs, horses, and specialist search-and-rescue personnel.
SES crews from Horsham, Wycheproof and surrounds had joined in, he added.
Anyone with information in relation to the matter is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report at crimestoppersvic.com.au
Lachlan Abbott is a crime reporter at The Age. He was previously a city reporter and covered breaking news.Connect via email.From our partners
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