Missing Victorian teen found dead in mine shaft was murdered: police
A missing Melbourne teenager, whose remains have been found in a state park, was murdered.
Investigators on Tuesday revealed that 17-year-old Cayleb Hough's remains were found in a shallow mineshaft near Seerey Track at the Lerderderg State Park in Bacchus Marsh on March 10, four months after he was reported missing in December.
Mr Hough was murdered, police have said. Source: Supplied
A police investigator holds a piece a fabric alongside SES workers during the search for clues into the suspected murder of Cayleb Hough. Source: AAP
"I can say quite categorically that Cayleb Hough was murdered," Detective Senior Sergeant Craig Rhodes told reporters on Tuesday.
A post-mortem examination has been conducted but police have declined to comment on the cause of death, or if a weapon was used.
ES workers during the search for clues into the suspected murder of Cayleb Hough near Bacchus Marsh west of Melbourne. Source: AAP
The Chelsea Heights teenager was last seen on December 20 travelling in a car with a man.
Police found the car in the car park of a Melbourne entertainment complex in mid-January and have interviewed its owner.
[[img:https://s.yimg.com/dh/ap/default/160411/murdered_vic_art8.jpg|caption=The mine shaft where the body a suspected murder victim Cayleb Hough was found near Bacchus Marsh. Source: AAP|size=O]]
Mr Hough was murdered, police have said. Source: Supplied
Cayleb's body was found on March 10 by a university student who was walking in the park.
"The body took some time to identity because of the way the body was and the DNA process," Det Sen Sgt Rhodes said.
Police are appealing to the public to come forward if they saw anything strange in and around the park between December and March.
Police supplied images of Mr Hough's clothing. Source: Supplied
"It is an out-of-the-way area," the detective said.
"If someone up here may have seen anything that was unusual ... anything that was out of the norm, that little bit of evidence might support us in our investigation."
Police do not believe the teen was been mixed up with drugs, or the wrong crowd.
"We have no idea why that would have occurred," Det Snr Sgt Rhodes said.
The blue 2003 Ford Falcon XR6 sedan and number of plate, which belong to Mt Hough. Source: Supplied
"He was just a young 17-year-old kid who had just left home and was looking for work. There was nothing untoward at all."
The teen was known to police before he disappeared.
Morning news break - April 12
