A man who lived next door to Karen Chetcuti has appeared in a Victorian court charged with her murder, a day after a woman's body was found in bushland.
The body found near Myrtleford on Monday has not yet formally been identified but police believe it is the 49-year-old mother of two from Whorouly in northeast Victoria who went missing a week ago.
Whorouly man Michael Cardamone, 48, briefly appeared in the Wangaratta Magistrates Court on Tuesday, charged with her murder and breaching parole.
Cardamone was arrested in Melbourne's eastern suburbs on Sunday after allegedly claiming he had been kidnapped.
Dressed in a white t-shirt and grey tracksuit pants, he was not required to speak during the short hearing on Tuesday before Magistrate John O'Callaghan, who appeared via videolink from Wodonga.
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Prosecutor Marino Eliades told the court police allege Cardamone killed Ms Chetcuti on or around January 12 after she went to his home for some tomatoes.
Her family and friends wept as defence lawyer Geoff Clancy highlighted custody issues for his client including high blood pressure and back pain.
"I don't give a s***", one of Ms Chetcuti's friend's said out loud as Mr Clancy explained his client had not received his medication for four days.
Ms Chetcuti was reported missing after failing to turn up to work at Wangaratta Council last Wednesday.
Police found the lights on at her home, with her bag and purse inside.
Her burnt-out car was found in bush near Myrtleford on Thursday, sparking a search of nearby bushland.
Friends of the community-minded woman have taken to social media to remember her.
"This should never have happened to you, a brilliant lady has paid with her life for such a senseless act," one wrote.
Another described how people were mesmerised by her "wonderful sense of humour" and "infectious laugh".
Staff at the local council where Ms Chetcuti worked for 20 years are struggling to accept the news of her death.
"We were always hopeful that Karen would be found alive but this news has confirmed the worst," Rural City of Wangaratta chief executive officer Brendan McGrath said in a statement on Tuesday.
Her two children, aged 14 and 15, are believed to be with their father.
Cardamone's address was suppressed, amid fears of vigilante attacks on the house where his mother still lives.
He was remanded to appear in the same court for a committal hearing on September 8.
