The female suspect in the disappearance of Victoria (Tori) Stafford has been charged with first-degree murder, upgraded from an original charge of accessory to murder.

Terri-Lynne McClintic, 18, briefly appeared in a Woodstock, Ont. courtroom via video link along with her 28-year-old co-accused Michael Rafferty on Thursday.

McClintic had also faced an abduction charge, but it was changed to unlawful confinement.

McClintic's lawyer Jeanine LeRoy told reporters outside the court that she was not surprised by the changes to the charges.

"It's not unusual for the nature of charges to change over time as the investigation continues, so I'm not surprised by that," LeRoy said.

She refused to comment on whether her client has shown any remorse, but said McClintic is trying to offer whatever help she can to police.

"Her attitude remains the same from when I spoke to you before the weekend. When she was able to co-operate fully, that was her goal, that remains her goal in order to help the police find Tori and to bring Tori home," LeRoy said.

An extensive search has been underway near Guelph, Ont., about an hour's drive from Woodstock, partly with the help of McClintic.

However, LeRoy said McClintic has not been asked to provide further assistance in the search.

Thursday marked the ninth day of searching for the missing schoolgirl's body.

Tori's mother, Tara McDonald, was not in court on Thursday on account of illness.

Rafferty's charges

Rafferty, her 28-year-old co-accused in the April 8 disappearance of the eight-year-old girl, is also charged with first-degree murder. The abduction charge he originally faced also became an unlawful confinement charge.

Rafferty appeared calm on the video monitor, stating his name and responding, "Yes sir," when his lawyer spoke to him. His lawyer, Hal Mattson, said outside the courtroom that his client is on suicide watch and is trying to get used to being in prison, comparing it to a dog being placed in a kennel.

Mattson said the two co-accused are being prosecuted by two separate Crown attorneys and are facing two separate trials -- which is unusual in a case where the accused are charged with committing a crime together.

He said he expected that McClintic will eventually be called on to testify against his client.

"You would think that they would have her testify against him, obviously," he said Thursday. "So, we'll have to see what she says and what information is coming forward."

The two accused were remanded in custody, and will both make video appearances in court next month.

Search continues

Meanwhile, police continue to search for Tori, a Grade 3 student who went missing on her way home from school.

Oxford Community Police Const. Laurie Anne Maitland told CTV News Channel on Thursday afternoon that search efforts were focused on a combination of rural and highway locations.

"Starting today, we have members of the OPP Emergency Response Teams returning to the landfill site, east of Salford, Ontario, where they were a couple of weeks ago," Maitland said in a phone interview from Woodstock, Ont.

"And we also have a further extensive search taking place on the 401 in the corridor between Woodstock and Guelph, being started today as well."

In a release from the OPP, Det. Insp William Renton said "the investigative team is working hard and is utilizing all available resources to help locate the body of Victoria Stafford."

Police are also asking property owners within a 50 minute drive of Guelph to check their land for anything suspicious.

Maitland said police are also still hoping the public will help them find the back seat that is missing from a blue 2003 Honda sedan, which police allege was involved in the kidnapping and murder of the little girl.

The car seat is described as being a grey-coloured cloth rear seat.

The blue vehicle, which is partially covered by black spray paint, was spotted in a Guelph Home Depot parking lot hours after Tori went missing on April 8.

With a report from CTV Toronto's John Musselman