The Prince George man accused of murdering a 15-year-old Fraser Lake girl made his first appearance in court Wednesday morning.
Cody Alan Legebokoff, 20, who is being held in custody on a detention order, will next appear on Jan. 5 after consulting with counsel.
A detention order means the accused is denied bail and remains in custody until the conclusion of the trial, subject to bail reviews in Supreme Court.
Legebokoff faces a charge of first degree murder in the death of Loren Donn Leslie, 15.
A police investigation was launched Saturday night after a suspicious vehicle was stopped north of Vanderhoof.
Leslie's body was discovered later near an older, unused logging road 22 kilometres north of Vanderhoof following a police check of a suspicious vehicle on Highway 27.
The North District Major Crime unit and Vanderhoof RCMP remain at the cordoned-off site, which is also under a no-fly restriction.
An autopsy of the victim was set for Wednesday in Kamloops.
The RCMP did not say whether Leslie knew Legebokoff but in an interview with other media, her father, Doug, said Leslie told a friend that night she was riding around with "Cody." The name was not familiar to him at the time but he said Leslie met a number of friends in the Prince George area through the social networking site Facebook.
Her former school principal, school superintendent Ray LeMoigne said Leslie was a Grade 10 student at Nechako Valley secondary school in Vanderhoof and all the Nechako Lakes School District 91 is reeling from the teenager's death,
"She was a good student and a delightful person," he said. "She had a love for drama and was active in a youth theatrical group. I think she acted in three musical productions."
LeMoigne sent heartfelt sympathy to family members "on behalf of the entire District 91 community."
"She was also French immersion student here in Vanderhoof from kindergarten through Grade 7 where she was well liked by her peers and teachers," said LeMoigne.
"I was her principal for a time, and found her very caring about others and a positive influence on people.
"Everyone in the community feels sadness, confusion, shock and disbelief. It affects the storekeeper who remembers her coming in; it affects the bus driver who watched her get on and off the bus; it's wide sweeping."
LeMoigne, whose district also includes Fort St. James secondary school - where, according to the 20-year-old's Facebook page, Legebekoff graduated in 2008 - said he did not know the suspect.
Grief counsellors were at Nechako Valley secondary school early Monday morning.
"Our staff want to provide support for our students in a way that makes them feel secure," Lemoigne said.
Gloria Thorpe, a neighbour of the Leslie family who saw her grow up from when she was a toddler, said she was "just sick" when she heard the news.
"I can't imagine the hell that family is going through and I certainly can't fathom how this could happen," said Thorpe. "Loren wasn't in the fast lane at all. She wasn't one of those youth who live on the edge. She had an inner strength that allowed her to do the right thing and not be led by others.
"Even as a little tyke she had that inner and physical strength. She was always the first one to swim in Fraser Lake as soon as the ice came off.
"Her father, Doug, and mother, Donna, simply treasured her," said Thorpe.
A funeral service will be held on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Stellaquo Hall in Fraser Lake.
School District 91 will provide transportation for students with guardians who wish to attend.
