Human remains have been found in bushland near the west Victorian town of Ballarat as part of the long-running investigation into the suspicious disappearance of mother Kobie Parfitt.
The discovery was made at Snake Valley, about 30 minutes away from the regional city, about 1.30pm on Tuesday, police said on Wednesday.
Detectives were searching the area on Monday and Tuesday before discovering the remains in a mine shaft near Kelly's Track.
The remains are yet to be formally identified.
Ms Parfitt, 43, was last seen in Ballarat on April 28 and police believe she was killed that day.
A 31-year-old Mount Clear woman was spoken to by officers and released without charge on Wednesday over Ms Parfitt's disappearance.
Other people of interest are expected to be questioned in coming days.
Earlier this month, police raided the Ballarat property where Ms Parfitt was last seen alive.
Detective Inspector Andrew Stamper said last month the mother of four had a challenging life around drugs and crime, and she had been estranged from her family for several years.
He said it was only a matter of time before the Missing Persons Squad solved the case.
