POLICE SPEAK OUT AFTER THE B0DY OF A 13-YEAR-OLD GIRL WAS FOUND IN WESTERN VICTORIA… AS ONE DETAIL ABOUT THE 16-YEAR-OLD BOY IN CUSTODY BECOMES THE FOCUS OF ATTENTION
Two adults are also assisting police with their investigation.
A teenage boy has been arrested and two women are assisting police after a young girl who vanished in western Victoria was found dead.
Layla Jeffery, 13, was reported missing on Sunday after she was last seen on McCracken St in Donald on Saturday.
Police said she had not been seen or heard from since, prompting a large-scale search of bushland west of Byrne St.
Human remains were found in the parkland on Thursday.
“While the remains are yet to be formally identified, they are believed to be that of the missing girl,” police said.
Detectives executed a search warrant at a home in Donald shortly after 11am on Friday as part of the investigation.
Police arrested a 16-year-old boy from the Swan Hill area, who was known to Layla, Detective Inspector Dave Dunstan said.
He was already known to police.
Two Melbourne women, aged 53 and 55, who were also known to Layla, are assisting investigators but have not been arrested.
“We are quietly confident that those responsible are in custody now,” Dunstan said.
“We don’t think there’s anyone else who may be involved in this situation.”
Dunstan said Layla’s family had been left devastated by the tragedy and urged parents to speak with their children about any contact they may have had with her.
“Have a chat to your kids and any contact they may have had with Layla or a friendship group on social media,” he said.
The circumstances surrounding Layla’s death are being treated as suspicious, and investigations are ongoing.
An extensive search remained underway in Donald on Friday afternoon, with Dunstan urging residents to stay away from the area so investigators could carry out their work.
“It is a tragic outcome for the Donald community and we implore people to reach out for support if they are affected by this,” he said.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
SOURCE: https://7news.com.au/news/human-remains-found-in-bushland-search-for-missing-13-year-old-in-western-victoria-c-22558826
