A charge of second-degree murder laid after the discovery of a woman’s body in Pelican Narrows earlier this fall has been stayed.

The accused, 19-year-old John Bob Glen Custer, was initially due to make a court appearance in Pelican Narrows this morning.

However, court officials confirm the murder charge he was facing was stayed on November 25.

RCMP say 40-year-old Heather Ballantyne appeared to have been strangled to death.

Her body was discovered near a trail in the community on October 29.