26 year old Richard Renalis of Palo Seco, who has been charged with murdering 12-year-old Mercedez Layne, appeared before a the Master of the Court on Thursday. The accused was remanded into custody after being denied bail and is expected to return to court at a later date as the criminal proceedings continue. Prosecutors filed the charge following legal advice and an ongoing police investigation into the killing of the Erin schoolgirl, whose disappearance and death shocked communities across the country.

Mercedez was reported missing on June 6 after she failed to arrive home following a trip from her grandfather's residence. Police launched an extensive search and investigation, using witness accounts and surveillance footage to trace her movements. Her body was discovered the following day near an oil well access road in Erin, leading investigators to detain and later charge the suspect. An autopsy subsequently determined that the child died from blunt force injuries.