DONALD, Victoria — A 16-year-old boy has been arrested after the body of missing 13-year-old Layla Jeffery was discovered in bushland near the rural Victorian town of Donald, bringing a tragic end to a days-long search that had gripped the close-knit community.
Victoria Police confirmed that human remains believed to be Layla were found on Thursday afternoon in parkland near the Richardson River Flats, about one kilometre from her family home. Authorities are treating her death as suspicious.
The teenager had been missing since last Saturday, prompting an extensive search involving police, volunteers and specialist search teams. Detectives arrested a 16-year-old boy at a nearby property on Friday morning. Police said the boy was known to both Layla and law enforcement and is currently being interviewed by investigators.
Two women, aged 53 from Donald and 55 from Melbourne, are also assisting police with inquiries. Investigators said the women are linked to the arrested teenager rather than Layla or her family. No charges had been laid as of Friday.
Layla, who was homeschooled, was described by locals as a quiet girl from a well-known family. Her death has devastated the farming community of around 1,500 residents.
Police spent much of Friday examining the crime scene, collecting evidence and conducting forensic investigations. Authorities have not disclosed how Layla died or how long her body had been at the location.
Detectives are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the teenager’s death and are appealing for anyone with information about Layla’s movements before she disappeared to contact Crime Stoppers.
The investigation remains ongoing as Victoria Police work to determine the events leading to the death of the 13-year-old, whose loss has sent shockwaves throughout regional Victoria.
