A man accused of murdering missing teenager Isla Bell has appeared in court after human remains were found at a Melbourne rubbish tip.

St Kilda East man Marat Ganiev, 53, appeared in the Melbourne magistrates court on Wednesday charged with murder.

Bell, 19, was last seen leaving her home in Brunswick on 4 October.

Human remains, which are yet to be formally identified, were found at a waste management facility in Dandenong, in Melbourne’s outer east, on Tuesday evening.

Bell’s mother, Justine Spokes, paid tribute to her “beloved daughter” on Wednesday.

“Cherished forever and suffering no more,” she told the Age. “I am so sorry I could not protect you.”

Missing persons squad detectives raided homes in Bentleigh East and Mulgrave on Tuesday and arrested three men, including Ganiev.

Ganiev is accused of murdering Bell in St Kilda East on 7 October, about three days after she was last seen, court documents show.

The court heard Ganiev had been prescribed methadone but his lawyer said he had not received the medication for two days.

Magistrate Justin Foster remanded Ganiev in custody and ordered he be seen by a prison nurse.

He will return to court in March.

A 57-year-old Hampton man has been charged with helping the alleged murderer and will appear in court on Wednesday afternoon, while a 63-year-old Mulgrave man has been released pending further inquiries.

Bell’s family have been notified of the discovery and police say they will be provided support services.

Her mother had previously made emotional pleas for information about her daughter’s whereabouts.

“My girl is missing and dearly missed,” Spokes wrote on Facebook on 15 October.

“She leaves an impression, she’s hard to forget. She has a fighting spirit, sometimes it’s loud and sometimes it’s soft, always enduring.

“We’re here for you bub. I love you my care bear.”

There had been no activity on Bell’s bank or social media accounts and her phone had not pinged to any telecommunication towers.