RCMP has confirmed that 15-year-old Loren Leslie, who was found dead Nov. 27, knew the suspect charged with her murder, 20-year-old Cody Alan Legebokoff.
"I can confirm today... that the victim and the suspect were known to each other and the two had communicated in the past. I can't comment on what their relationship was or how long they had known each other," said RCMP Cpl. Dan Moskaluk said yesterday.
The autopsy of Loren Donn Leslie was postponed until Thursday, but the results are not likely to be made public, he said.
"No further updates - even on the autopsy - will be released to the public," said Moskaluk.
Fort St. James residents are now trying to make sense of a tragedy involving one of their young men now locked up in jail with charges of first degree murder hanging over his head.
Prince George resident Legebokoff was born in Fort St. James and graduated from Fort St. James Secondary School two years ago.
"The people of Fort St. James have been dealing with shock, confusion and disbelief since Tuesday when the word came out about Cody," said Nechako Lakes School District 91 superintendent Ray LeMoigne.
"Cody has a loving family and caring parents, siblings and a large extended family in the region. In school he was well liked by his peers and was very good at sports. He played minor hockey at all levels and belonged to the downhill ski and snowboard team."
The school district has been providing grief counsellors at schools in Fort St. James since that time to help students and staff cope, said LeMoigne.
"I want to express support, on behalf of the school district, to Cody's family as they deal with each new day."
Leslie's body was discovered the night of Nov. 27 following a police check of a suspicious vehicle on Highway 27 and subsequent search by police and a conservation officer called in to assist RCMP.
Her body was found in an area of an older, unused logging road 22 kilometres north of Vanderhoof.
Moskaluk said the conservation officer was called in to assist because RCMP, at the time, thought they may have been dealing with a case of poaching.
"In such cases conservation services has authority to search an area under the Wild Life Act."
Legebokoff is in custody on a detention order. That means the accused is denied bail and remains in custody until the matter is concluded, subject to bail reviews in Supreme Court.
His next court appearance is set for Jan. 5.
A funeral service for Leslie will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday in the Stellaquo Hall in Fraser Lake.
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