Layla Jeffery, 13, was ‘somewhat shy’ and ‘well-liked’. A Victorian town is struggling with her alleged murder

Layla Jeffery, 13, was reported missing earlier this month after failing to return home. Photograph: Supplied View image in fullscreen Layla Jeffery, 13, was reported missing earlier this month after failing to return home. Photograph: Supplied Layla Jeffery, 13, was ‘somewhat shy’ and ‘well-liked’. A Victorian town is struggling with her alleged murder Donald – a small community about 280km from Melbourne – is grieving after a missing teenager was found dead Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast In the week after Layla Jeffery failed to return home in the early hours of 4 July, residents in the tiny Victorian town of Donald worriedly shared posts about the missing 13-year-old girl. One woman, who was receiving chemotherapy treatment in the town last week, wrote on Facebook that she felt “sick” at the thought of something happening to Layla. Others shared a post from police, asking for any information about her whereabouts. On Thursday afternoon, the small community’s worst fears were confirmed when human remains were found in nearby bushland. Since then, Donald has been a community in grief. View image in fullscreen Floral tributes for Layla Jeffrey in Donald. Over the weekend, local sports teams wore touches of pink to honour the school girl. Photograph: Supplied Police have charged a 16-year-old boy with Layla’s alleged murder , who appeared before a children’s court over the weekend. Layla’s aunt, Kaitlyn Cheyne, has remembered her niece as the “sweetest girl”. “As hard as it is and as horrible it is, [we] were somewhat prepared for this outcome,” she told reporters over the weekend. Through tears, Cheyne said Layla had turned the light on before she left her family home on McCracken Street, because she had been “planning to come back”. She was reported missing the following day. Sign up for the Breaking News Australia email The town of Donald, about 280km north-west of Melbourne, has a population of less than 1,500, according to the latest census. It’s a place where the local football and netball club are at the heart of the community. The mayor of Buloke Shire council, Graeme Milne, said “everybody knows everybody” in Donald. As school resumed for term three on Monday, Milne said psychological support was being provided for local children. “There will be a lot of hurt around. At that age, kids … have only got to know you for five minutes and you’re a mate,” Milne said. “I would expect the kids are finding it tough going.” View image in fullscreen The Sunraysia Highway in Donald. Photograph: Dpa Picture Alliance Archive/Alamy Milne said community members had described Layla as “somewhat shy” and “well-liked”. “She did have a great group of friends,” he said. “They’re sticking with the family and sticking together to work their way through it.” Milne said the Donald community was now banding together to support her family and friends. Map showing location of the town of Donald relative to Melbourne, Swan Hill and Horsha