‘She was my daughter’: Parents of Moncton murder victim attend court hearing for accused

The parents of a murder victim were in Moncton provincial court Thursday morning for an appearance of one of the people accused of killing her.

The body of Melissa Dawn Price was discovered in a garbage bin at the bottom of High Street in Moncton on Feb. 15.

Devlin O’Blenis was arrested on March 11 and charged with first-degree murder in the death of the 39-year-old woman.

Police have not said how Price died.

“She was my daughter. She’s home in a dining room in a box,” said Peter Price, Melissa’s father.

O’Blenis, 35, made a brief court appearance via telephone from the Southeast Regional Correctional Centre in Shediac.

Peter, his wife Pat Price and other family supporters were present.

Court heard O’Blenis’ lawyer was out of the country, so the matter was adjourned for two weeks.

Afterwards, the Price family was very emotional and angry when approached by reporters on the front steps of the courthouse.

“I pray, I believe in God, and I don’t think it’s my place to have vengeance, but I’m finding it really hard at my age not to jump over chairs and stuff. If I saw him today, I don’t know how I would react,” said Peter. “My youth is gone, but I’ve still got a lot of fire in my veins.”

Pat thanked homicide investigators for a “fantastic job” in making arrests in connection with her daughter’s death.

She said Melissa didn’t deserve what happened to her and wondered why she was murdered.

“Forty this Saturday,” she said. “Forty this Saturday. I have to sing happy birthday to a box, an urn.”

Leandra Beaulieu, 36, was arrested on March 25 and the next day was also charged with first-degree murder in connection to Melissa’s death.

Beaulieu is scheduled to return to court on April 9.

On March 19, police arrested Joshua Martin, 36, and charged him with being an accessory after the fact of murder and indignity to a human body.

Martin is scheduled to be back in court on April 13, while O’Blenis will appear in person on April 13.

The Prices said they will be at all the court appearances for the three people charged.

“Everyone of them,” said Pat. “I don’t care if I have to sleep out in a tent, I’ll be here.”

None of the charges against any of the accused in this case have been proven in court.

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