A 28-year-old man has been charged with murder over the death of Cayleb Hough, whose body was found in a mineshaft months after he was reported missing.
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Police charged the man, from Kawarren, south of Colac, on Saturday but did not announce the development until after his first court appearance on Sunday.
He was remanded in custody and will appear in the Melbourne Magistrates Court again on Thursday, a police spokeswoman said.
A Facebook page set up to create awareness about the case said the laying of the charge was "big news
for all of Cayleb's family and friends".
"We miss you so bad," it said of 17-year-old Cayleb.
The post thanked police for their assistance.
"I can't thank them [enough] and everyone that has helped to get to this point."
Cayleb went missing on December 20 last year. He was last seen in a blue Ford Falcon XR6 sedan leaving a party at a house in Melbourne's south-east.
On March 10, a Melbourne University botany student stumbled across Cayleb's body while doing research for an assignment in the Lerderderg State Park, west of Melbourne.
His remains were found at the bottom of a shallow shaft in bush, off Camerons Road, near Seerey Track.
It took several weeks to identify his body.
