Ex-boyfriend Lachie Young charged with murder after Hannah McGuire found dead in car

Police will allege the man charged with murdering Hannah McGuire posted a tribute on Instagram after the death and told friends she’d taken her own life.

Police will allege the man charged with the murder of Victorian woman Hannah McGuire drove her body to a remote national park and set the car on fire, before posting a loving tribute on social media and telling her friends she had taken her own life.

Lachie Young, 21, had been living with Ms McGuire for about a year before their recent separation, according to media reports.

The 23-year-old woman was reported missing by her family early on Friday morning, not long before emergency services were called to a car fire at State Forest Road in Scarsdale, south of the town Ballarat.

Hannah McGuire was found dead inside a burnt-out car on Friday morning.

On Sunday, police arrested Mr Young and charged him with murder. He is due to face court today.

The Herald Sun reports Mr Young allegedly posted an image on Instagram of himself and Ms McGuire, alongside a caption that read: “I will forever love you until we meet again make that sky pretty beautiful girl.”

It was uploaded at 1.19am on Saturday.

The man charged with murdering Hannah McGuire allegedly posted a tribute on Instagram after her death.

The newspaper reports that police will allege he also send a text message to her friends claiming she had committed suicide.

“The police came and seen me Friday lunchtime and told me she had done it and wasn’t with us anymore. This is my fault,” it allegedly read.

Hannah McGuire was found dead on Friday.

Lachie Young, 21, has been charged with murder. Picture: Supplied

The Clunes Cricket Club has now started a fundraiser to support Ms McGuire’s family, which as of Tuesday morning had raised more than $42,000.

“Hannah was known by many as a bright young woman and had a heart of gold,” it wrote.

“As a club and a community, we want to put our arms around the McGuire family and everyone close to Hannah.”

The club said Ms McGuire’s parents were sponsors of the club and they had to close their business while they grieve for their daughter.

Do you know more about this story? Email [e-mail]

Mr Young and Ms McGuire are understood to have split recently. Picture: Supplied

The family owns local pub the National Hotel Clunes, which announced on Friday it would be shut due to unforeseen circumstances.

Overnight, the pub’s Facebook page shared a heartbreaking update that read: “The pub will be open as normal on Wednesday, we’ll leave you in the capable hands of Johnny Hind for a few days. Thank you everyone for your love, support and kind words. Our hearts are broken. ‘You weren’t just a star to us. You were our whole damn sky.’ Miss you Princess!”

Eureka Netball Club also paid tribute to its former player in a post on Saturday.

“Sending our deepest condolences to the family and friends of our past player, Hannah McGuire. Eureka Netball Club extend our deepest sympathy,” it wrote.

Friend Caitlyn Stepnell wrote on social media yesterday that Ms McGuire would “forever be a little sister to me”.

“You were an amazing women, an amazing friend, an amazing support / you were my hype girl,” she said. “I loved watching you become the women you were and watching you grow.

“I will miss you every single day. My heart breaks, heaven has gained an angel. Goodbye for now, not forever.”

Ms McGuire was reported missing by her family. picture: Facebook

Ms McGuire’s body was found in a burnt out car in State Forest Road, Scarsdale.

The intersection of State Forest Rd and Victoria Rd at Ross Creek where a woman was murdered in a burnt out car on Friday. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Yesterday, police remained at the Sebastopol home where Young lives, and where Ms McGuire resided until recently.

Two other nearby homes were searched, according to reports.

When police arrested Young on Sunday, they also arrested another man – a 22-year-old – who has since been released.

The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information should call Crime Stoppers.

The tragedy comes just a month after a man was charged over the murder of Ballarat mum Samantha Murphy, who went missing in February after going out for a morning job.

Her body has not been located but investigators allege the 51-year-old was murdered by local man Patrick Stephenson.

Do you have a story? Email [e-mail]