10am

2.30am: Michael Cardamone, 48, has been charged by Homicide Squad detectives following the suspicious disappearance of a 49-year-old Whorouly woman. 

 A body was located off Croppers Creek Road near Myrtleford about 1.35pm yesterday and is yet to be formally identified, but is believed to be the 49-year-old.

Cardamone faced an out of sessions’ court hearing and was charged with one count of murder.

He has been remanded in custody and will appear at the Wangaratta Magistrates’ Court today.

Monday

AN EXTENSIVE search for a missing Whorouly mother of two came to a sad end on Monday when a body was found in bushland.

A body believed to be that of Karen Chetcuti, 49, was discovered near blackberry bushes off Croppers Creek Road near Lake Buffalo.

Police had been searching the area after focusing on paddocks, rivers and homes in Whorouly and Myrtleford in previous days.

Despite hopes the Wangaratta Council worker would be found alive and an extensive appeal for information, the grim discovery was made about 1.35pm.

Her neighbour, Michael Cardamone, 48, remained in custody in Wangaratta on Monday night after being arrested in Melbourne over a pursuit on Saturday.

It’s believed he was taken to Wangaratta to assist police with their investigation.

He has not been charged.

Ms Chetcuti was last seen leaving the town’s pub on Tuesday night and fears were raised when she failed to turn up to work at Wangaratta Council the following day.

Those concerns grew when her distinctive red Citroen was set alight at Myrtleford early Thursday, about 20 kilometres from her home.

A police helicopter circled over the area where the body was discovered and police blocked roads leading to the site.

Forensic officers examined the scene over several hours.

Cardamone had given two media interviews after Ms Chetcuti went missing stating he had been the last person to see her alive late on Tuesday.

Ralph Albace, who lives across the road from Ms Chetcuti, said Monday’s discovery had rocked the small town.

He said many people had hoped she would be found alive. 

“I think everyone is a bit shocked now that we know what’s happened,” he said.

“We were really hoping she would be found safe but it didn’t work out like that.

“I feel sorry for the kids.

“It’s really bad.”

He said Ms Chetcuti had been a friendly woman who was well liked.

“She didn’t deserve this,” he said.

“It’s a shock to have it happen just across the road.”

Garry Kneebone, who lives two doors down from her property, said it had been a horrible outcome.

“It’s good in some ways that they at least found a body,” he said.

“It gives some closure.

“But it’s also just terrible.”