General News
10 July, 2026
PHOTOS Teen arrested, search for info continues on death of Donald girl
Police have confirmed a 16-year-old boy has been arrested and is being questioned.
ST Arnaud SES has joined the search for more information around the death of young Donald girl Layla.
Police confirmed the arrest of a 16-year-old boy after a search of a residence in Donald earlier today.
He is currently being interviewed by detectives. Police said this afternoon told a media conference the teenager was known to police.
Buloke Mayor Graeme Milne and local councillor Charmaine Delaney spoke of the sorror and sadness in the town and said support services were now ready to assist the community.
Council has been part of co-ordinating support through East Wimmera Health Service and Headspace.
Lines of police and SES continued searching land along the Richardson River, just a few hundred metres from the police station.
Two women, a 53-year-old from Donald and 55-year-old from Melbourne, are also assisting police with their enquiries.
The remains are yet to be formally identified, but they are believed to be those of missing 13-year-old girl, Layla, who was a student at Donald High School.
Police said a large-scale search was conducted in bushland west of Byrne Street after she was reported missing by a family member on July 5.
The 13-year-old was last seen on McCracken Avenue in Donald on July 4, however had not been seen or heard from since.
Local police, along with specialist officers from the Dog Squad, Air Wing and Search and Rescue Squad were involved in the search, which resulted in the remains being located late Thursday afternoon.
The investigation into the circumstances around the death of the girl remain ongoing, however police are currently treating it as suspicious.
Anyone with information in relation to the matter is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
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