Police discover body of teenage girl in Victorian bushland after 13-year-old vanished on weekend | Victoria

The body of a 13-year-old girl who went missing over the weekend has been found following an extensive search in bushland in regional Victoria. Police said they were treating the death as “suspicious.”

Police found Layla Jeffery’s remains in Donald, a small town in Victoria’s west, late Thursday afternoon.

After the teenager was reported missing on July 5, an extensive search was carried out in woodland west of Byrne Street. Layla was last seen the other day on McCracken Street in Donald, but has not been heard from since.

In addition to local police, specialist officers from the dog squad, air wing and search and rescue team also participated in the search.

“Although the remains have not yet been officially identified, they are believed to be those of the missing girl,” police said in a statement on Friday.

As part of the investigation, a search warrant was executed at a residence in Donald shortly after 11 a.m. Friday.

“The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the girl’s death is ongoing, but police are currently treating the incident as suspicious,” a police spokesman said.