By Madeleine Heffernan
A 21-year-old Ballarat man has been charged with murder after a 23-year-old woman was found dead in bushland in central Victoria.
The body of Hannah McGuire, who has been remembered as a bright young woman with a heart of gold, was found on Friday morning after emergency services were called to reports of a car on fire near State Forest Road in Scarsdale, about 25 kilometres south-west of Ballarat.
Hannah McGuire, 23, was found dead in bushland near Ballarat on April 5.
McGuire’s remains were found inside the car.
Police charged a 21-year-old man from Sebastopol with murder on Monday afternoon after he was arrested in the south Ballarat suburb on Sunday. He is to appear at Ballarat Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, they said.
Police believe the man and McGuire, from the nearby town of Clunes, knew each other.
A fundraiser set up by a local cricket club on Monday had raised more than $4000 for McGuire’s family, who are well known in the Clunes community.
“On behalf of the Clunes Cricket Club, we are creating a fundraiser for the McGuire family, after the devastating passing of Hannah on Friday 5th of April,” the GoFundMe fundraiser said.
“As a community we send our deepest love and condolences to Glenn, Debbie, Jude and Fletcher. Hannah was known by many as a bright young woman and had a heart of gold.
“Glenn and Debbie sponsor the Clunes Cricket Club and are very generous people. As a club and a community, we want to put our arms around the McGuire family and everyone close to Hannah.”
Friends also expressed their love for McGuire, describing her as an amazing woman.
A crime scene was established in Sebastopol.Credit: Nine News
Two men were arrested on Sunday after search warrants were executed at homes in Sebastopol.
A 22-year-old man was released, while the 21-year-old man was charged on Monday afternoon.
“At this stage, investigators believe the parties involved were known to each other,” police said.
McGuire’s death comes after the high-profile disappearance of Ballarat mother Samantha Murphy in February and the subsequent arrest of Patrick Stephenson, who is alleged to have murdered her.
Homicide detectives initially arrested two men.Credit: Nine News
Any witnesses and anyone with CCTV or dashcam footage or information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
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