Father who fell in with 'the wrong crowd' mourned as shocking details emerge about his violent end
The family of a Victorian man whose body was found in a shallow grave at a Tyabb farm says he'd fallen in with the wrong crowd and made enemies.
Jade Goodwin's fingers were hacked off with a machete a few months ago, and then last week he suddenly went missing.
The 39-year-old Hastings man was last seen alive on October 13, Victoria Police confirmed on Tuesday.
On Sunday his twin brother Jesse Bryer asked Facebook friends for help to find him - but the father of two was already dead, dumped in a shallow grave at a vacant Tyabb farm on the Mornington Peninsula.
It's not known who made the grisly discovery on the property, which is vacant and listed for sale.
About 20 SES members assisted police with a line search at the property on Monday afternoon.
The property had been abandoned for about two years and the farmhouse was trashed with broken furniture.
Behind the shed and among weeds is the shallow grave where Mr Goodwin's body was found, buried about one foot deep.
Detectives returned to the farmhouse on Tuesday to gather more evidence.
Mr Goodwin's cousin Melanie Grass told Seven News she was in disbelief over the news.
“I'm still in shock. I can't believe this has happened to him. There's some nasty people out there.
“He had two little girls, Jordan and Aria... I started to think it was a bit strange when he didn't turn up for his daughter's visitation. He has her every Wednesday, he goes and sees her and he doesn't miss her for the world."
Ms Grass said her cousin was "afraid" about something, but she didn't know how to "reach out to him" to find out how to help.
"He just got caught up in the wrong scene and made some wrong choices," Ms Grass said.
Despite Mr Goodwin's violent end, his brother posted online: "I forgive whoever is responsible ... God teaches me to forgive, to not repay evil with evil. My twin, my hero, my defender, you will be sadly missed."
Friends of the dead man paid tribute to the father on social media.
"U would give the shirt off your back if someone was in need. U were a true friend," one person posted to Facebook on Tuesday.
"Rest In Peace Jade Goodwin what a man you were," another friend said.
Police are urging anyone who saw Mr Goodwin between October 13 and October 22, or who witnessed anything of interest at the property, to make contact.
Anyone with information is encouraged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or report anonymously online.
