HALIFAX -- A man has been charged with murder in the death of his mother, whose body was found outside a home in central Halifax Tuesday morning.

Halifax Regional Police responded to a report of suspicious circumstances at the home in the 6300 block of Willow Street around 7:30 a.m.

Officers found a woman’s body in the backyard of the home. A man was also in the backyard and he was arrested at the scene.

An autopsy has been conducted and the woman’s death has been ruled a homicide.

She has been identified as 65-year-old Linda Lamontagne.

Her son, 26-year-old Ryan Richard Lamontagne of Halifax, has been charged with second-degree murder and indignity to human remains.

In court documents, police say the man is charged with indecently interfering with human remains "by attempting to bury Linda Lamontagne."

The crime scene is a stone's throw from a public school and a local church.

 Local residents like Andy Curry, who has only lived in the area for about a year-and-a-half, says the incident is unnerving.

"I'm hoping this is an anomaly and doesn't reflect on the neighbourhood as a whole," Curry said.

Lamontagne made a brief appearance in Halifax provincial court Wednesday morning. He was remanded to the East Coast Forensic Hospital for a psychiatric assessment.

Lamontagne is due back in court on Oct. 30.

Investigators returned to the home Wednesday, where they continued to comb the backyard for evidence.

Members of Halifax Search and Rescue teams assisted police in scouring the area.

Police say they will remain on scene as long as it takes.

With files from Bruce Frisko and The Canadian Press