13-year-old Layla Jeffery found murdered in country Victoria | 7NEWS

Hearts are breaking in country Victoria tonight after the murder of a 13 -year -old girl.

Her body was found dumped in a river five days after she vanished from her family's Donald home.Her alleged killer, aged just 16.

Since Leila Jeffrey disappeared, the people of Donald had their hearts in their mouths.Tonight, those hearts are broken.

Sadly, last night, our human remains were located in the parkland area adjacent to where we are now, which we believe sadly are that of the missing girl, Leila.

A 13 -year -old girl killed, a teenage boy in custody.Police found him at a nearby home this morning.

At this location we've arrested a 16 -year -old youth.

That boy was known to Leila and to police.

We also have a 53 -year -old Donald woman and a 55 -year -old woman from Melbourne assisting us with our inquiries.

A quiet girl, Leila Jeffrey, was homeschooled and wasn't known to find trouble, but evil found her in the remote Wheatbelt town she called home.The teenager vanished last Saturday, but locals say the search ramped up two days ago, focusing on bushland around the Richardson River flats.

looking for in a location.

She was found just one kilometre from her home.It's not clear how long she'd been there or what injury she'd sustained.The sources told Seven News the scene behind me was so traumatic that some officers were told to take time away from it.It's a tragedy that will now send shockwaves through this tiny town of just 1500 people.

It is being felt very widely throughout the community.These are the things that don't happen in small country close -knit communities.

to Jacqueline Stanley and Donald Jack, there's a long night ahead for police.

certainly will be.a lot of potential evidence being loaded into the back of their cars.So far though, Carina, no charges have been laid.

Jacqueline Stanley in Donald, thank you.