Ogdensburg Man Charged with Murdering Longtime Friend

John Free, a 50-year-old man from Ogdensburg, is accused of murdering his longtime friend John Barr in Rensselaer Falls. The St. Lawrence County District Attorney confirmed their friendship but provided no details on the motive or the weapon used. Free, who was previously implicated in abuse allegations at the now-closed Academy at Ivy Ridge, was arrested without incident and remains jailed without bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for next Tuesday.