A 16-year-old boy has been charged with murder after a missing 13-year-old girl was found dead in Australia, leaving her family devastated.
The teenage suspect, whose name has not been released because of his age, is accused of killing Layla Jeffery, according to Victoria Police.
Layla was last seen on Saturday, July 4, and was reported missing by her concerned family the following day.
Police launched a search, but the case took a tragic turn on Thursday, July 9, when human remains were discovered in the town of Donald.
Authorities later identified the remains as Layla’s, according to The Guardian, ABC and 7News.
Police have not publicly disclosed her cause of death. However, investigators said the accused teen was known to Layla.
Her aunt, Kaitlyn Cheyne, remembered the 13-year-old as a kind and quiet child whose death has left the entire family struggling to cope.
“She was a very sweet and fairly shy girl,” Cheyne told ABC.
“It’s extremely hard right now,” she added. “We’re absolutely devastated to no longer have Layla with us, especially under these circumstances.”
The 16-year-old has been charged with one count of murder and was expected to appear in a children’s court on Saturday, July 11, for a remand hearing.
It remains unclear whether he has entered a plea.
A GoFundMe campaign created to help Layla’s family cover memorial expenses and other costs had raised more than $42,000 as of Monday, July 13.
