Scott Devlin made his first appearance in court this afternoon.
After his arrest at Union Station in Toronto yesterday, Devlin appeared at the Sault Ste. Marie Courthouse via video conference while in custody.
The 52-year-old appeared to have shorter hair and a clean-shaven face compared with the photo circulated by police.
When he addressed the judge, Devlin sounded calm and collected during the brief hearing.
He faces charges of second degree murder and indignity to a dead body in connection with the death of 30-year-old Mikaila Straatsma.
None of the allegations have been proven in court and Devlin is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
This afternoon, Devlin was banned from contacting a lengthy list of individuals.
A publication ban has been put in place to prevent certain details from being published during court proceedings.
Devlin’s arrest concludes a five-month-long saga that began when his disappearance coincided with a homicide investigation at his 731 Pine St. apartment building in June.
He was reported missing on June 18, and Straatsma’s body was found in her apartment – just down the hall from Devlin and his family’s apartment – on June 19.
City police said the two incidents were separate investigations for the first few months, but Devlin’s disappearance and Straatsma’s death were linked when a Canada-wide warrant was issued for Devlin in late October.
In the intervening months between Devlin’s disappearance and his arrest, speculation abounded that the two cases were connected.
This summer, articles detailing Devlin’s history of sexual offences – involving young girls – surfaced on social media and shocked his former coworkers.
SooToday learned a search warrant was executed in Devlin’s apartment on Aug. 27.
When the Canada-wide warrant for his arrest was issued, police said Devlin was last seen at Billy Bishop Airport on June 17.
Sault police identified and arrested Devlin at Union Station in Toronto yesterday at 5:15 p.m.
After police arrested Devlin, they brought him back to the Sault.
Devlin will remain in custody and will make his next court appearance on Nov. 20.