Philippe Steele-Morin, 30, appeared in a Montreal courtroom Monday afternoon and was charged with the murder of Tricia Boisvert.
The Gatineau man faces charges of second-degree murder and committing an indignity to a human body.
When he appeared before the judge, Steele-Morin complained that he was not allowed to speak with a lawyer.
He also expressed his dissatisfaction with the condition imposed by the court that he not contact his girlfriend until his next court appearance on May 8.
Steele-Morin will be detained until then.
Victim’s family relieved
Family members of Tricia Boisvert, who was 36, waited weeks for someone to be charged with her death.
“Now she can rest in peace … We’ll finally know what happened and why,” said the victim’s cousin MélanieBoisvert.
Police say Boisvert was killed on Jan. 17 while she was in her Montreal home on Notre-Dame Street West.
Police found blood in her apartment.
Five days later, they found her body in woods northeast of the village of Quyon, Que.
After 6 weeks of searching, and a Canada-wide arrest warrant, police nabbed Steele-Morin in Gatineau on Monday.
Second suspect wanted
Montreal police say they are now looking for a second suspect in the case.
Officials with the Major Crimes unit say they don’t believe Steele-Morin acted alone.
Police have issued a Canada-wide arrest warrant for James Boucher, 31, whom they believe may also be in the Outaouais area.
He is wanted for allegedly being an accessory after the fact, and for committing an indignity to a human body.
Police are asking anyone with information to call 9-1-1.