A man found naked near a small West Australian fishing town last week has now been charged with murder after police discovered human remains in a burnt-out car.
Lobster fisherman in the small coastal town north of Cervantes, north of Perth, found Benjamin Jack McLaughlin, 19, allegedly naked on a boat on the morning of September 26.
Police allege the Hamilton Hill man had crashed his Mitsubishi Pajero on Indian Ocean Dr near the Cervantes Rd turn-off hours earlier.
A 38-year-old man was driving a red SUV along Indian Ocean Dr when he came across Mr McLaughlin.
It is alleged by police an incident occurred between the pair, resulting in the 38-year-old’s death.
The man’s red SUV was located in the ocean off Cervantes the next morning.
Human remains were found in the Mitsubishi Pajero, which was found in flames.
A naked Mr McLaughlin was rescued from the waters by a fishing vessel, before he was taken into police custody and then taken for medical treatment.
On Thursday a WA Police spokeswoman said Mr McLaughlin had since been charged with murder, aggravated criminal damage by fire and stealing a motor vehicle.
He is due to appear before the Perth Magistrates Court on Thursday.
The 1997 Parejo was allegedly seen driving at speed through Perth and up into the northern suburbs the night before the wreckage was found.
“We are aware that the vehicle was in the Hamilton Hill area around about 9pm (on Monday night), it travelled via Canning Highway, Mitchell Freeway and Indian Ocean Drive and arrived at the location in Cervantes where it was subsequently on fire,” Detective Senior Sergeant Greg McDonald said last week.