ESGENOOPETITJ, N.B - A 29-year-old man has been charged with first-degree murder in the slaying of his 16-year-old cousin whose disappearance and death gripped residents of a small New Brunswick community.

RCMP charged Curtis Bonnell after a massive investigation into Hilary Bonnell's death that involved more than 200 officers.

The body of Hilary Bonnell of Esgenoopetitj First Nation, also known as Burnt Church, was found last month buried in a remote wooded area that's part of a former military training area.

She had been missing since Sept. 5 after attending a house party the night before on the reserve of 1,100, setting off an extensive search.

Her last confirmed sighting was recorded on surveillance footage at a convenience store in the community.

At a news conference in nearby Tracadie-Sheila, Insp. Roch Fortin alleged that Curtis Bonnell acted alone.

"The investigation has been complex and we have had RCMP members literally working around the clock since we first received the call that Hilary was missing," Fortin said.

"The support from Hilary's family and from the people of the First Nation of Burnt Church has been appreciated."

Her death stunned the reserve's residents. More than 500 people attended her funeral as her mother, Pamela Fillier, wept over her casket.

Chiefs from First Nations across Atlantic Canada were on hand at the service to show their support, as was the province's lieutenant-governor.

"The past few months have been nothing less than tragic for the family and friends of Hilary," Fortin said.

"I have witnessed first-hand the way the community has come together -- first to try to locate Hilary and then to say goodbye to her. The compassion and caring display for one another has been extraordinary."

Fortin declined to release Bonnell's cause of death, saying that was now a matter before the courts.

Curtis Bonnell is due in provincial court in Miramichi on Dec. 21.

In a separate matter, he is also facing charges of sexual assault, unlawful confinement and resisting arrest for an alleged incident in November.