A Saskatoon man who strangled a mother of nine to death and dumped her body on the edge of town is going to prison.

Derek Caron pleaded guilty Sept. 9 in provincial court to manslaughter in the Feb. 1, 2023 death of his wife, Jessica Caron. He had originally been charged with second-degree murder.

Judge Natasha Crooks accepted a joint sentencing submission of 18 years from defence lawyer Tanis Talbot and prosecutor Sheryl Fillo. The sentence is for the manslaughter and for dumping her body. Caron cannot apply for parole for at least nine years.

Fillo described the circumstances as familiar and tragic, “an Indigenous female victim of a violent offence,” and said its impact will ripple through her family.

“She has nine children who are dealing with the loss of their mother,” she said.

Derek Caron pleaded guilty to manslaughter. (Derek Caron/Facebook)

Derek Caron is father to four of the children.

Court heard how the pair met in elementary school “and she was the love of his life,” Talbot said. She stayed with him when, in 1999, he was behind the wheel of a stolen car that killed a couple from Rosetown after a police chase in Saskatoon.

Caron served a federal sentence and, after his release from prison, stayed sober and out of trouble for 13 years. However, the combination of his stepfather dying and a serious physical injury in 2021 sent him back to narcotics and booze.

Talbot said Caron was high and drunk when he strangled Jessica. They had been fighting over allegations and counter-allegations of infidelity.

“He had no illusions he was going to get away with it,” Talbot said.

Caron loaded his wife’s body into a truck and dumped her in a snowbank near the train station, “because he just didn’t want his kids to find her.” However, he accidentally backed his half-ton into the ditch and got stuck when moving her body.

Police called to the scene by railroad staff followed footprints from the truck to a nearby stand of trees, and found Caron’s body wrapped in sheets and a bath towel.

Derek Caron was arrested a short time later.

Crooks accepted the joint sentencing recommendation.