Two men have been charged over the murder of a war veteran and great-grandfather in his home near Ballarat last month.
Kenneth Handford's body was found at his home in Springbank on the day of his 90th birthday.
A 38-year-old Sebastapol man and a 28-year-old Wendouree man were arrested at their homes on Tuesday morning, and have now been charged with one count each of murder and aggravated burglary.
The two men appeared before Melbourne Magistrates Court on Tuesday afternoon and were remanded in custody to reappear on January 28 next year.
Police believe the murder was a botched burglary and have been searching for his World War II service medals, which were taken from the house along with some cash.
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Mr Handford had been tied up and viciously assaulted.
Following the arrests, police called the bomb squad to the Sebastapol property after a suspicious device was found.
A green Subaru station wagon with registration 1FH 8KE is now being sought in relation to the case.
Mr Handford's son Ken told a news conference on Sunday he had an idea of who might have killed his father.
"To have the knowledge of where to go, I think they must have been from the community," Mr Handford told reporters.
"I have a certain belief of who they were, I know of one person."
Mr Handford was well known around Springbank and Ballarat as a kind and generous man, and it was widely known he carried cash.
He was due to move in with his son and was in the process of packing up his rural property to make the move to Ballarat.
