BREAKING: Search for Missing 13-Year-Old Ends in Tragedy as Teen Boy Is Taken Into Custody
Layla Jeffery, 13, was last seen in Donald on July 4. (Supplied: Victoria Police)
A teenager has been arrested after police searching for a missing 13-year-old girl discovered human remains hidden in the bush.
Victorian police launched a widescale search operation after 13-year-old Layla Jeffery was reported missing last week.
She was last seen in McCracken St in Donald in the state’s northwest on Saturday, July 4, and has not been seen or heard from since.
However, late on Thursday afternoon, police searching an area of bushland west of Byrne St discovered human remains believed to be that Layla.
Now, they have confirmed that a 16-year-old boy has been taken into custody and is being questioned by police.
The teen was arrested on Friday, with officers treating Layla’s disappearance as suspicious.
Layla Jeffery, 13, was last seen in Donald on July 4. (Supplied: Victoria Police)
While the remains are yet to be formally identified, police believe them to be hers.
Following the gruesome discovery, police carried out a raid on a property in her home town in Donald.
And while investigations into the circumstances of her death are ongoing, police are also treating it as suspicious.
Layla Jeffery, 13, was last seen in Donald on July 4. (Supplied: Victoria Police)
Neighbours have told ABC that the girl’s disappearance had upset the community.
“When you’re a population of Donald and everyone knows everyone, when something like this happens, even if you’ve been in Donald five minutes and it happens to you, it really does upset the community,” said Donald man Shane O’Shea.
“You think it doesn’t happen in Donald, or can’t happen in a small community like Donald, but suddenly you’re thrust upon it.”
