Jodus Murphy has been described as a deep-thinking boy with a beautiful nature and a wicked sense of humour by his family and friends at a funeral service held in Dandenong South on June 30.
The 18-year-old went missing from Frankston on May 12 and is believed to have travelled to Seymour shortly after.
Possible sightings of Jodus were speculated upon on Seymour community Facebook pages at the time, as his family appealed for information.
These included a teenager picking up rubbish near Liqourland and on another occasion pushing an empty trolley down a street.
Jodus’s body was found beside the Goulburn River on June 14. Police are not treating his death as suspicious.
Investigators from Mitchell Crime Investigation Unit were previously keeping the investigation under wraps but are now keen to speak to anyone who may have seen or had any interaction with Jodus between May 13 and June 14.
His grandparents, with whom Jodus had lived since he was two years old, described him as an intelligent boy with a beautiful nature.
He was a talented artist, having been assessed as in the 95th percentile for visual learning, a friend close to the family had said.
He was deeply passionate about his interests, which varied widely from health and well-being to rap music and the natural environment.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or to submit a confidential report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au