A murder charge has been laid in the death of Abbotsford resident Ryan Saint-Ange, whose body was discovered in a home on 56th Avenue in mid-January.

A second-degree murder charge was sworn against Shayne Steven Vauthrin, who has no previous criminal record, in Abbotsford provincial court on Monday.

Comments by family members on the victim's memorial Facebook site suggest that Vauthrin, 26, turned himself in to police.

The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team confirmed the accused surrendered himself.

"IHIT identified Mr. Vauthrin as a person of interest in this homicide," said IHIT spokeswoman Sgt. Jennifer Pound.

"After investigators made contact with him, he turned himself into police on Feb. 19."

A friend discovered the body of Saint-Ange, 21, on Jan. 14 at a home he'd been living at in the 27700 block of 56th Avenue.

The Bradner-area home is owned by full-patch Hells Angel Michael Robatzek.

Saint-Ange was living in the home with a number of other people, but no one else was at the residence when his body was discovered.

The APD had attended the home in the past, but not on a frequent basis.

The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team is revealing little about how or why the young man was murdered but investigators do not believe the death is gang or drug related.

Saint-Ange, who went by the moniker Black Ryan, had lived in Abbotsford for about two years before his death.

Facebook tributes to the young man recall the victim as being good natured and fun-loving.

Vauthrin's next scheduled court appearance is on February 24.

- with a file from Kim Bolan, Vancouver Sun