A 31-year-old man was charged at the Salaberry-de-Valleyfield courthouse on Friday – in connection with the dead body of a 29-year-old woman found on Thursday morning in Hemmingford, about 60 kilometres south of Montreal — near the U.S. border.
The Sûreté du Québec (SQ) made the arrest Thursday afternoon and Nicholas Gravel was charged today specifically for improperly or indecently interfering with or offering any indignity to a dead body or human remains, whether buried or not.
There is a non-publication ban regarding any information that could identify the victim.
On Thursday morning, provincial police said they located a woman’s body near a home in Hemmingford, but did not confirm the identity. An autopsy is expected to be performed to determine the exact cause of death.
According to the official charge sheet, the offence took place between Sept. 15 and 21 in Hemmingford.
SQ had reported that the victim was last seen on Saturday, Sept. 21, leaving her home.
A ground search was suspended on Wednesday and a body found Thursday morning.
Gravel remains in custody and is due back in court Oct. 2 for a bail hearing.