Wandering River resident Trevor Bobocel has been charged with second-degree murder and committing an indignity to the body of his common-law partner, Roxanne Bigelow.
Bobocel faces charges after Bigelow's remains were found last Friday morning at a location off of Conklin Trail Road, about 37 kilometres north of Lac La Biche.
Bobocel appeared in Lac La Biche Provincial Court yesterday and sobs were heard in the packed courtroom.
The 38-year-old accused looked at the floor during most of the proceedings, only muttering, "I understand,” after Judge Don Demetrick read the charges.
A second court appearance is scheduled for March 28, giving Bobocel time to get a lawyer. The accused is scheduled to appear by closed-circuit television from the Edmonton Remand Centre.
Police have confirmed that Bobocel was arrested near a burning vehicle last Friday morning, the same one Lac La Biche and Owl River fire departments responded to at around 8 a.m.
The investigation is still ongoing but according to RCMP spokeswoman Doris Stapleton, police have confirmed that a brush cutter was involved in the disposal of the body,
Police waited for autopsy results before Sunday's positive identification of Bigelow, the mother of five children, the youngest being only eight months old.
Bigelow was a custodian at the Wandering River School, and also worked at a child centre in Wandering River.
Friends, family and co-workers are devastated by the news, and remember Bigelow as a kind, caring person and a good mom.
"She was a beautiful person, very caring,” said a close female friend who wished to remain anonymous. "You see horrible events on the news everyday and you think "That's a shame,” but when it happens to you, it's completely different. It makes you re-evaluate life.”
A trust fund has been established by family members for the five children at ScotiaBank to help family members raise the children. Donations can be made to the Bobocel-Bigelow trust fund at the Lac La Biche Scotiabank branch.
Northern Lights School Division counseling staff have been assigned to the Wandering River and Plamondon schools to provide assistance to staff and students in dealing with the loss of an employee and active community resident.
