Man charged after Jessica Miller’s body found near Saint John

WATCH: 20-year-old Jessica Ann Miller was found dead about a day after she was reported missing. As Global’s Andrew Cromwell reports, another 20-year-old is facing charges.

SAINT JOHN – A 20-year-old Hampton man has been charged with indignity to a dead body in connection with the death of a 20-year-old Jessica Ann Miller.

Miller had been reported missing on Sunday. RCMP arrested Jesse Edwards Reynolds after Miller’s body was found Monday.

Her remains were found in a wooded area near Prince of Wales just off Highway 1 and west of Saint John at around 8 p.m. Monday.

Miller was reported missing after family had not heard from her since late last week.  On Monday afternoon, her vehicle was discovered in Saint John.

Miller’s mother confirmed to Global News that Reynolds is known to the family.

“We obviously feel at this point that he was involved in her death in some way and he has been charged with indignity to a dead body,” said Cst. Jullie Rogers-Marsh with New Brunswick RCMP.

“Further charges could possibly happen depending on the outcome of the investigation.”

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Reynolds appeared in court in Saint John on Tuesday morning and was charged with causing indignity to a dead body. He’s been remanded into custody until his next court appearance on August 4.

An autopsy is being conducted to determine the exact cause of death.

The RCMP’s Major Crimes Unit along with Southeast District and West District RCMP are continuing to investigate.

Small community left in mourning

Miller was from Apohaqui, a village just west of Sussex with a population of a couple hundred, is mourning the loss.

The 20-year-old was a criminology student at Eastern College in Saint John.

“It’s not going to be great around here for a while, that’s for sure,” said Leroy Armstrong, former MLA of the area,” he said. “My heart just goes out to her mother and the family that something of this nature happened.”

Miller’s Facebook page is full of inspirational quotes including her cover photo which reads: “You have to fight through some bad days to earn the best days of your life.”