A second housemate has been charged with the murder of Bendigo woman Samantha Kelly.
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Christine Ann Lyons, 45, has had her charges upgraded from being an accessory to murder, to one count of murder, the Bendigo Advertiser reports
A spokesperson for Victoria Police confirmed the upgraded charge on Thursday.
Ms Lyons was the housemate of Ms Kelly and has remained in custody since she was initially charged on February 13.
Another housemate, Peter James Arthur, 44, was also charged with murder.
Ms Lyons' husband, 44-year-old Ronald Lyons, was charged with being an accessory to murder and was released on bail on March 22.
The trio were charged in relation to the death of Ms Kelly, which occurred "on or about" January 20 in their home in the Bendigo suburb of Kangaroo Flat.
Ms Kelly's body was found in bushland not far from Bendigo on February 12.
Police allege Mr Arthur murdered Ms Kelly with a shovel, before Christine and Ronald Lyons allegedly helped to orchestrate a cover-up, as well as helping to hide her body.
Christine Lyons intended to apply for bail at a hearing on June 22, but the application was withdrawn without her knowledge.
The court had earlier heard she has an intellectual disability.
Between the alleged murder of Ms Kelly, and their eventual arrest on February 12, the three allegedly took over the care of Ms Kelly's four children.
They allegedly concocted a story that their mother had "abandoned them", before re-enrolling one daughter at school under a different surname.
Police also allege Mr Arthur withdrew $3690 from Ms Kelly's bank account using ATMs in Bendigo and Sunbury.
The three appeared in photographs for several newspapers after Ms Kelly's disappearance, in an alleged attempt to raise awareness of the missing person.
All three will appear at a committal hearing in the Bendigo Magistrates' Court on September 14.
