The man charged with first degree murder in connection with the death of Otto "Bunty" Loose, who went missing from his Vulcan home earlier in January, was remanded to custody on Monday.
Timmy Engel, 35, appeared, via CCTV from Calgary, in a Lethbridge courtroom to face the murder charge.
He is also charged with one count of indignity to a human body.
Engel asked for and was granted more time to find a lawyer to defend him.
RCMP believe that Loose, 77, was abducted from his home and taken to Nanton and Claresholm where there were several attempts to withdraw money from his bank accounts.
They believe that Engel had befriended Loose during the time before the kidnapping as part of an elaborate con job.
Engel's common-law wife, Bobbi Joe Parks, is also charged in connection with the case.
Parks was released on her own recognizance last week and will make her first court appearance in Fort MacLeod on Wednesday.
Loose's daughter, Lavonda Justinick says she will be in court until the case is resolved and she is staying strong with the help of friends and family.
"Being in a small community people have no idea until you have a devastating thing like this happen. The support is unbelievable," said Justinick.
Engel will be back in court on February 27.
