Saskatchewan man pleads guilty to manslaughter of his wife

Derek Thomas Caron pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the death of his wife, 44-year-old Jessica Caron, in Saskatoon on Tuesday.

Caron, 43, was initially charged with first-degree murder after his wife's body was discovered in a ditch near Range Road 3062 in the early hours of February 7, 2023.

Crystal Rose Lafond, 37, has also been charged in the case. She is accused of helping Caron escape after the alleged murder.

On Tuesday, Caron pleaded guilty in Saskatoon Provincial Court to the lesser offense of manslaughter and was sentenced to 18 years in prison.

This is not Caron's first contact with the justice system.

In 1999, Caron drove a stolen car through downtown Saskatoon while fleeing from police. He ran a red light and crashed into a vehicle, killing a couple from Rosetown, Sask.

Archive photo from the scene of the 1999 accident caused by Derek Thomas Caron in downtown Saskatoon.

Caron was sentenced to seven years in prison after pleading guilty to involuntary manslaughter.

During the sentencing for the fatal car accident, Caron said he regretted his actions and wanted to change his life.