Warren Patrick White, 35, was charged with second-degree murder on Saturday. On Sunday, he was remanded in custody for a psychiatric assessment. ((CBC))

Residents of a quiet neighbourhood in the west end of St. John's say they are trying to cope with the gruesome discovery of a dismembered body.

Four boys found a suitcase in a wooded area near a Warbury Street home while playing Friday afternoon, and discovered human remains inside.

Warren Patrick White, 35, was charged Saturday with second-degree murder and performing an indignity to a dead body. On Sunday, he was remanded in custody until June 16 while he undergoes a psychiatric assessment.

The remains were identified as those of Amanda Power. Residents said White and Power had moved into a Warbury Street apartment about six months ago.

Michael Strickland lives down the street from where White and Power lived.

"It's not that just the woman got killed. It's just the manner. That's the horrible part about it," Strickland said.

A Royal Newfoundland Constabulary officer collects evidence Friday night near where a suitcase containing human remains was found. ((CBC))

"This is like something you see on TV, but to happen five houses down — it's shocking, to know that somebody could actually do that."

Strickland's mother, Carol, said that when she last spoke with White, he told her his girlfriend was pregnant.

Resident Scott Miller, who has been watching police do their work since being called to the scene late Friday afternoon, still cannot get over what the boys found, and what happened to Power's body.

"Shocking," Miller said.

"I have a seven-year-old son, I have a wife [and] for the neighbours around the area, to me it's just way too close.

Counsellors to provide 'emotional first aid'

The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary has been searching the area, including an open field not far from where the body was found, as well as the nearby Waterford River.

Counsellors will be working with the children this week to help them cope with what they saw. Maj. Mervyn Halvorsen, a Salvation Army officer who trains workers in crisis situations, said children can show many signs of stress after seeing something disturbing.

"This is emotional first aid," said Halvorsen, describing the work that volunteers will be conducting.

"Every child is very different, just as every adult is," Halvorsen said.

"Children can experience no emotion ... but to the other end, there might be reactions such as sickness, physically, nausea. There might be sleepless nights, waking up during the middle of the night with nightmares. There might be lots of crying now. You might find a child regressing."