Man switches plea, admits he murdered Sault woman, stabbed man

A Toronto man pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and attempted murder on Wednesday, ending his Sault Ste. Marie trial on its 7th day.

A murder trial in Sault Ste. Marie ended Tuesday when Steven Jones switched his plea and admitted he killed a Sault woman and stabbed a man in 2023.

Jones, now 27, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the death of Taylor Marshall, 22, who was stabbed to death Sept. 7, 2023. She was found dead in her apartment.

He also pleaded guilty to attempted murder for stabbing Liam Frenette, an attack that took place the same day on the city’s boardwalk, a few blocks away from the murder scene.

“It was determined the victim sustained significant stab wounds resulting in their death,” Sault police said in a news release at the time.

“Video and physical evidence lead investigators to tie the accused to the homicide. The victim and the accused were not known to each other.”

After the first victim was killed, police said the accused headed to the boardwalk, where Frenette was attacked with a knife.

Both the murder and the stabbing were random attacks.

Officials at the Sault courthouse confirmed Wednesday that Jones switched his pleas to guilty.

A Gladue Report has been ordered. The case returns to court Jan. 21, when a date will be set for sentencing.