Yellowknife (Oct 08/04) - A Yellowknife man has been charged with first degree murder in the death of a parole officer.

Louise Pargeter, 34, was found dead at around 3 p.m. Wednesday in an apartment at Range Lake Manor South.

Eli Ulayuk, 36, of Yellowknife, has been charged with first degree murder in connection with Pargeter's death.

RCMP responded to a call from Corrections Canada after the parole officer was reported overdue to return from a visit with one of her clients.

At about 7 p.m. Wednesday, police observed a suspect driving a vehicle along Highway 3 west of Yellowknife.

Driver ran off

When Rae RCMP tried to stop the vehicle, the driver ran off and was pursued by police through the bush about 45km west of Yellowknife. The highway was closed to traffic to allow police to contain the area.

Members of the Rae and Yellowknife RCMP detachments and its Emergency Response Team were on the scene. A police dog and handler from Grande Prairie, Alta., arrived around midnight.

The chase ended around 2 a.m. yesterday when "the individual surrendered to police without incident," said RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Glen Demmon.

The highway was re-opened to traffic at that time.

At press time, RCMP would not release any other details surrounding Pargeter's death.

Calls to Corrections Canada were not returned by press time.

Pargeter is survived by a partner and their young child.