Murdered teenager Cayleb Hough, pictured as a toddler in his father Steven’s arms in one of the family’s favourite photos

The child is Cayleb Hough and he grew into a strapping young lad with a promising future, until his life was cut short at age 17 in the cruellest of ways.

On Tuesday, detectives revealed that human remains found in an abandoned mineshaft on March 10 in Victoria’s Lerderderg State Park belonged to the Melbourne teen, who vanished days before Christmas. He had been murdered, they confirmed.

The tragic discovery ended his family’s relentless four month campaign to find him, but marked the beginning of another — a quest for justice.

The key to the case appears to be an older, male acquaintance Cayleb was seen with just before he disappeared. The man is understood to be on the periphery of Cayleb’s large circle of friends.

The pair were sighted in the man’s blue 2003 Ford Falcon XR6 sedan in the suburb of Highett at around 6am on December 20, after attending a house party in Skye.

The car was abandoned in Crown Casino and found on January 16. It is understood the owner fled overseas for at least two weeks, shortly after Cayleb was reported missing. He has since returned to Australia and has been interviewed by detectives.

While police have not revealed what the man told them, it is believed he may be withholding vital information that could solve the case.

Overnight, Cayleb’s devastated father Steven Hough made a direct appeal to the man to “do the right thing”.

“I’m calling on that person, the owner of the car, to come forward and provide the information,” he told news.com.au.

“That person, and anyone else who has information, owes it to Cayleb and to our friends and community, who have supported us so much in our efforts to find him, to do the right thing.”

A four month search for Cayleb Hough, 17, ended tragically last week with confirmation that remains found in a remote, abandoned mineshaft belonged to him.Source:Facebook

SES and police search for evidence around the Bacchus Marsh mineshaft in Lerderderg State Park where Cayleb’s body was found. Picture: Tim CarrafaSource:News Corp Australia

Police are trying to locate a pair of Adidas high tops and a Samsung phone that were flung from a taxi. Pictured are likenesses of the items

Detective Senior Sergeant Craig Rhodes, who is leading the investigation, told news.com.au it was unclear how the body of the 180cm teenager was moved to the disused mineshaft, which is hidden in a fairly remote area of Lerderderg State Park near the Seerey Track at Bacchus Marsh.

However, police do have reason to believe that whoever placed him there caught a taxi from the vicinity on Monday December 21.

They believe a pair of black Adidas high tops and a Samsung mobile phone were discarded from the cab during the journey through Harold Road, Springvale Road, Patterson Road and Darren Road in Springvale South between 10pm and 11.30pm.

On Thursday, Missing Persons Squad officers carried out a door knock of residents in the Doveton and Springvale South areas, in the hope of finding someone who may have picked up the items without realising their significance.

“The response from the public has been excellent,” Snr Sgt Rhodes told news.com.au.

“I have no doubt somebody knows who was responsible. I think that the majority of Cayleb’s friends genuinely believed he (intentionally) went missing and that now that they realise this wasn’t the case, are rethinking what they may have been told (about his disappearance).”

Investigators have also been encouraged by new information received this week which points to a previously unknown sighting of Cayleb in either Power St or Clow St in Dandenong late on December 20 or in the early hours of December 21.

“That’s the last time we think he was seen alive,” Snr Sgt Rhodes said. “He was dropped off by somebody in that area.”

Officers are currently trying to track down CCTV from the area which could assist in their investigation.

Cayleb, pictured with his baby nephew, had four sisters who adored him

A life cut short: Cayleb Hough had ‘such a good heart,’ his father says.

Right up until they received the terrible news that he was dead, Cayleb’s parents Steven Hough and Melanie Danaher, along with their extended families, searched relentlessly for him.

Though Mr Hough and Ms Danaher are long separated and both have new partners, they remained close for the sake of their son.

They supported and encouraged him and are united in their mission to see his killers brought to justice.

Over the past four months, they posted plea after heartbreaking plea to social media, begging their “angel” to “please come home”.

Yesterday, the family posted an emotional message to the Help Find Cayleb Hough Facebook page, thanking their supporters and vowing not to rest until the perpetrators were arrested.

“We as a family really are completely overwhelmed with the enormous amount of support we have received with our campaign to help us find our beloved Angel Cayleb,” the post read.

“Without your support we would not have been able to succeed with our quest to find and bring him home.

“Words can’t really describe the ongoing pain and suffering we have all had to endure through this horrific experience and it will continue,” it read.

“All of us close to Cayleb knew from the start that things didn’t add up and that something wasn’t right. No matter what though we never gave up hope that we would find him safe but to everyone’s complete shock, our worst fears were confirmed which has left a hole in our hearts that will never be filled.

“Confused, distraught, feelings of hopelessness and probably most of all ANGER pumps through our veins but now as a family is our time to grieve. Say a prayer for Cayleb and those who knew him.

“Our campaign is not over and we will never give up until the evil monsters that not only hurt our boy, but took his life are brought to Justice.”

Mr Hough and Ms Danaher have set up a memorial fund has been set up in Cayleb’s honour and his funeral has been earmarked for April 22. Details will be posted on the HelpFindCalebHough Facebook page.

Anyone with information can contact CrimeStoppers and give information anonymously by calling 1800 333 000.

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The image of Cayleb that appeared on hundreds of posters, flyers and bumper stickers circulated by his family across Melbourne over the past four monthsSource:Facebook