Teenage boy arrested after remains found in search for 13-year-old girl in country Victoria

A teenage boy has been arrested after human remains believed to be those of a 13-year-old girl were found following a major police search in north-west Victoria.

The small country town of Donald was in shock on Friday after police searching for local teenager Layla Jeffery discovered a body on Thursday afternoon.

Police have arrested a 16-year-old boy from the Swan Hill area, Detective Inspector Dave Dunstan from Victoria Police’s missing persons squad revealed on Friday afternoon.

“He is currently being interviewed by detectives,” police said in a statement.

“Two women, a 53-year-old from Donald and 55-year-old from Melbourne, are also assisting police with their inquiries.”

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.

She 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 the 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.

“The investigation into the circumstances around the death of the girl remain ongoing, however police are currently treating it as suspicious.”

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.”

Buloke Shire councillor Charmaine Delaney said she was still waiting for more details from police, but that locals would support the Jeffery family.

“It’s extremely tragic,” she said.

Police said the missing person search this week centred on bushland west of Byrne Street in Donald. It featured police dogs, specialist search-and-rescue officers, and SES crews.

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

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