A man charged with first-degree murder in connection with the sudden disappearance of his neighbour will remain in custody until his case returns to court in less than two weeks.
Camille Cleroux, 56, appeared disheveled during his first court appearance Thursday afternoon.
Cleroux, who is approximately five feet two inches tall, has scruffy white hair and a heavy French accent. He is still in the process of obtaining a lawyer.
He was remanded in custody until his next court appearance, scheduled via video link on June 14.
Cleroux was charged with murder on Wednesday after police found human remains in a wooded area near a missing woman's apartment building.
Paula Leclair was reported missing by her son on Saturday when he found an unknown male living in his mother's apartment on Fairlea Crescent in Ottawa's south end.
Although forensic investigators have not confirmed the identity of the human remains, police believe they belong to Leclair.
In a strange twist, neighbours say Cleroux apparently threw out Leclair's belongings and moved into her apartment after she disappeared late last week.
He apparently told neighbours Leclair had won a $50,000-jackpot and was in Florida for a vacation, and gave him permission to move into her unit.
However, police say Leclair didn't win the lottery. The case marks the city's sixth homicide of the year.
Anyone with information about the homicide is asked to contact Ottawa police at 613-236-1222, ext. 5423 or Crime Stoppers at 613-233-8477 (TIPS).
