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Boyfriend charged in Ashley Simpson’s alleged murder denied bail

Ashley Simpson went missing from the North Okanagan in April 2016. She was 32 at the time. Submitted

The man charged in the 2016 killing of girlfriend Ashley Simpson has been denied bail.

Derek Lee Matthew Favell, 39, was charged with second-degree murder in the 32-year-old Salmon Arm, B.C., woman’s death in December.

He will remain in custody, following a bail hearing on Thursday.

Click to play video: 'Murder charge laid in Ashley Simpson disappearance'
Murder charge laid in Ashley Simpson disappearance
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It took RCMP five years to make an arrest after Simpson, who was originally from St. Catharines, Ont., disappeared under suspicious circumstances.

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The couple had been living in a trailer on a property belonging to Favell’s friend, Brent Cox, in the Yankee Flats area near Silver Creek.

At the time of her disappearance, Favell told Global news that he was “crushed,” and that he’d reported her missing after learning she hadn’t been in contact with her family.

Click to play video: 'B.C. RCMP confirm Ashley Simpson’s remains found; boyfriend charged with murder'
B.C. RCMP confirm Ashley Simpson’s remains found; boyfriend charged with murder

He also told Global News that he and Simpson had had fought over money the day she was last seen.

Upon his arrest, Mounties told a news conference that they had found her remains in a forested area outside Salmon Arm.

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Five women, including Simpson, have disappeared from the North Okanagan and Shuswap regions since 2016. Only one has been found.

RCMP have said there is no connection between Simpson’s death and the other cases, though those investigations continue.

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