A man charged over the death of an 11-year-old girl at her Victorian home was allegedly an acquaintance of her family.
Zoe Buttigieg's body was found by her mother in her Inchbold Street, Wangaratta, home on Sunday morning and on Wednesday evening a man, 29, was charged in relation to her death.
He is due before Wangaratta Magistrates Court on Thursday, facing charges of murder, sexual penetration of a child under 16 and an indecent act with a child under 16.
The Age reports police believe the man was invited to a party at the home on Saturday night, but he was not particularly close to the family.
The accused murderer was arrested walking barefoot along the Hume Freeway, about 10 kilometres from her house, at 6.30am on Sunday, hours before the girl's body was found.
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Neighbours and friends gathered outside Zoe's house for a candlelight vigil on Monday and on Wednesday her family released a statement thanking police and the community for their support.
"We are overwhelmed by the community support and would like to say a huge thank you to those who organised and attended the candlelight vigil at the park that Zoe always enjoyed playing at."
Zoe's mother thanked "all who have stood by her".
The Wangaratta Turf Club will host a fundraiser on November 20, with all money raised to go towards the memory of Zoe's life.
