A 15-year-old southern New Brunswick girl has been charged with first-degree murder after a 78-year-old man was found dead in his Damascus home on Friday night.

The RCMP laid the charge on Sunday, two days after Frank Tonge was discovered in his residence by a friend.

The accused, who is from the Hampton area, cannot be identified under provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

"A friend of Mr. Tonge visited and discovered him in a state where he appeared to be severely wounded. The investigation developed from there — from somebody wounded to somebody deceased to having a suspicious death to having a murder," said RCMP Sgt. Steve Gourdeau.

The RCMP are not releasing many details as the investigation is ongoing.

So far, the RCMP has indicated that the teen was not related to the victim but they knew each other.

"A lot of people knew Mr. Tonge, he's almost a life resident of that area," Gourdeau said.

Gourdeau said the teen is being held in a youth facility.

The girl has been remanded in custody until her court appearance in Hampton on Wednesday afternoon.