Chloe Mitchell was last seen between ten and eleven days ago
A 26-year-old man has appeared in court charged with the murder of 21-year-old Chloe Mitchell in County Antrim.
Brandon John Rainey of James Street, Ballymena, was charged with murdering Ms Mitchell between 2 and 5 June.
Ms Mitchell was last seen in the County Antrim town on the night of 2 June and into the early hours of 3 June.
A huge search operation got under way and, on Sunday, suspected human remains were found. These have not been formally identified.
In court on Monday, a police officer said she could connect both men to the charges against them.
Mr Rainey, who appeared at the court via videolink, has serious mental health problems and is a paranoid schizophrenic, Ballymena Magistrates Court heard.
In court, when asked if he understood the charge against him, Mr Rainey replied: “Yeah.”
‘Most serious offence’
His defence lawyer said he had “acute mental health difficulties”and that he denied the charge.
An application was made for Mr Rainey to be released to the Shannon Clinic – a medium secure unit for people with mental illness – outside Belfast, but police objected as he had previously escaped from the clinic.
Judge Peter King said Mr Rainey had been charged with the “most serious offence in the criminal canon” and remanded him in custody at Maghaberry Prison until 6 July. No application for bail was made.
Also before the court was Ryan Johnston Gordon, 34, of Nursery Close, Ballymena who was charged with attempting to impede justice by concealing evidence around the alleged murder of Ms Mitchell.
Counsel for Mr Gordon said he wanted to “echo similar sentiments to my colleague” in terms of his client, adding: “There are mental health difficulties.”
Mr Gordon was also remanded pending a bail application which will be heard at Ballymena Magistrates Court on 20 June.
None of Chloe’s family was present for the hearing.
A huge search operation was launched in Ballymena after Ms Mitchell’s disappearance
Earlier on Monday, North Antrim MP Ian Paisley told BBC News NI’s Good Morning Ulster programme that Chloe Mitchell’s death was an “absolute tragedy”.
“There is a terrible shadow over the town – the sadness is palpable,” he said.
‘Worked in hope’
Mr Paisley paid tribute to the teams of people – both professionals and volunteers – saying that they showed “great courage and bravery”.
“They were just brilliant; they worked in very hot weather through river beds and through difficult terrain.
“It shows the community spirit. No-one wanted to hear that awful news that emerged and the sadness that is there. They worked in hope, but unfortunately that has been put aside now.”
The Ballymena community worked alongside the Community Rescue Service (CRS) last week searching along the banks of the Braid River as well as in the water.
Surrounding parklands and the Ecos centre were also searched.
A prayer vigil for the missing woman was held at Harryville Presbyterian Church on Sunday evening.
Image source, Pacemaker
A prayer vigil for Chloe Mitchell was held in Harryville in Ballymena on Sunday
