A 17-year-old boy charged with second-degree murder remains in the mental-health ward of a Halifax children's hospital.

The teenager is accused of killing Joy Ann Wright, 49, last Friday in Middle Sackville, a Halifax-area community.

The teen, who cannot be named because of his age, is in custody at the in-patient psychiatric unit of the IWK Health Centre.

RCMP found the body of Wright inside the semi-detached home at 20 Hewer Cres. around noon Friday.

Halifax RCMP spokeswoman Const. Tamu Braken said Monday that Wright died of "a stabbing-related injury."

The teen was scheduled to appear in Halifax youth court Monday, but his lawyer, Stanley MacDonald, appeared on his behalf.

"His family is very appreciative of how the police dealt with the matter and very appreciative of the treatment he received at the Cobequid Centre and the IWK," MacDonald said.

The RCMP said a series of car accidents Friday morning is connected with Wright's death.

Postal van struck

"We believe that a 17-year-old male had left [Wright's] residence in a vehicle, got into an accident on Rossing Drive, and then had the accident on Millwood Drive," Bracken said.

A postal delivery van parked on Rossing Drive — which is connected to Hewer Crescent — was hit from behind by a speeding car, just missing a Canada Post employee.

The driver then smashed into a dump truck on Millwood Drive and got out of the car.

Witnesses said he stripped off his clothes and he walked down the street.

Just before 12:30 p.m. Friday, emergency crews were called to attend to a male who had been struck by a vehicle on Sackville Drive, which is connected to Millwood Drive.

The male was taken to the emergency room at the Cobequid Community Health Centre to be treated for injuries that were not life-threatening.

On Monday, two bouquets of flowers sat in the snow outside Wright's home. Neighbours said the single mother lived there for the last seven years.

Investigators remain at the residence to look for clues.