Vic man remanded over toddler death

The man accused of murdering Victorian toddler Nikki Francis-Coslovich has spent his first night behind bars.

Mildura man John Torney, 31, briefly appeared in Mildura Magistrates' Court on Friday night charged with one count of murder.

The body of two-year-old Nikki was found in her Mildura home on Tuesday evening, hours after she was reported missing by her mother.

It is believed an autopsy gave police the final pieces to the puzzle regarding the tot's death.

Torney is the boyfriend of the girl's mother.

He was remanded to appear at Mildura Magistrates' Court on December 15.

Speaking in Melbourne after formally identifying his daughter's body on Friday, Nick Coslovich said he was struggling to come to terms with what had happened.

"I've pretty much moved past sadness; I'm trying to hold back rage," Mr Coslovich told the Nine Network.

"I can't even process half of what's coming in at the moment."