The man accused of murdering Kelsey Felker made his first court appearance Thursday.
Stephen Johnson is facing charges of first-degree murder and committing an indignity to a dead body.
The torso of Felker, 24, was found last weekend in a garbage bin outside a Kitchener apartment building. Johnson is reportedly a resident of the same building.
Lynne Pell, who also lives in the building, says she hopes Johnson gets “whatever he deserves.”
“As long as he’s gone, he’s gone,” she said.
The arrest was made only hours after police returned to the Frederick Street apartment, with forensic examiners searching for DNA evidence.
Police say Johnson, 37, was arrested without incident shortly before 4 a.m. Thursday, in a room at the Knights Inn motel in Kitchener.
The manager of the motel says Johnson checked into the hotel Tuesday and did not appear agitated or stressed.
During Johnson’s brief court appearance, a man identified as Felker’s brother sat in the courtroom and shouted “You’re going to rot in hell, buddy,” at Johnson.
Police believe Johnson and Felker were known to each other.
While Johnson sat behind bars, investigators were back at the apartment building, gathering more evidence. Police tell CTV they do not anticipate any further arrests, but there is still significant work to be done at the building.
Police have not reported finding any other body parts belonging to Felker, but officers were seen Thursday afternoon searching a wooded area off of River Road near Old Chicopee Drive.
After a search that included the use of police dogs, officers were seen leaving the area with biohazard bags.
Police would only say that officers were conducting a search in relation to an ongoing investigation.
Officers returned to the area late Thursday afternoon.