A grieving family is searching for answers after a Toronto man was charged with second-degree murder in connection with the death of a 28-year-old woman.

Police officers found Natasha Perez dead in an apartment at 220 Oak St., near the Regent Park neighbourhood, just before 6 a.m. Saturday.

Brian Harte, 42, was arrested at the scene and appeared in court at Old City Hall on Sunday morning to face a second-degree murder charge. His case was set aside until Thursday.

Inside the courtroom, family and friends of Perez cried as the accused stepped into the prisoner’s box and said his name.

Outside the courthouse, family members told reporters they are not familiar with the accused, whose 24th-floor apartment is where Perez’s body was discovered. The accused phoned 911 to summon police to the apartment.

It appears Perez had been staying with Harte, but her family said she had a boyfriend who is not the accused.

It was previously rumoured that Perez and the accused were in a relationship, and that her death was a domestic homicide.

Family members described Perez as a “beautiful, amazing,” woman with a sense of humour.

“She didn’t deserve to die like this,” said Juliana Alvarez, Perez’s cousin.

Perez battled drug problems, but wanted a better life, they said.

“She was telling me, ‘uncle, I know I’m going to make it,’” said Victor Alvarez.

Perez had a son, Eric.

“My grandson is a 13-year-old who has no mom today, and he doesn’t understand what is going on,” said his tearful grandmother, Margarita Oertel.

An autopsy performed on Sunday found that Perez died of an “incised wound to the neck,” police said.

Det.-Sgt. Gary Giroux said the autopsy was not a simple examination.

“The violence that was inflicted on the victim was far more than was necessary to commit murder,” he said.

Meanwhile, police continued to canvass the building to learn more about the accused. Investigators are asking anyone with information to contact the Homicide Squad at 416-808-7400, or Crime Stoppers at 416-222-8477.

Harte’s next court appearance is scheduled for April 9 at College Park.

With a report from CTV Toronto’s Tamara Cherry