Authorities have found the remains of Esther Jones, who was the victim of a homicide at a Bible college in Kingston, N.S., in August 2024. The Southwest Nova RCMP Major Crime Unit found the remains in a wooded area in Cloud Lake, N.S., on Sept. 9. The Nova Scotia Medical Examiner has confirmed they are those of Jones. “I am happy to have the closure of knowing that her remains have been found,” said Kathy Dobson, Jones’ sister. “We are still processing it and we are still reeling from this. Some of us thought this would never come and it has come and now we are finding out where we are now,” Police charged Dale Allen Toole of Tremont with first-degree murder in September 2024 in relation to her disappearance. According to court documents, Toole killed Jones, who was 55 at the time, at the Kingston Bible College on Aug. 31, 2024, and disposed of her body. Jones’ sister Mary Harvey reported her missing to RCMP on Sept. 2, 2024. Harvey told police she hadn’t heard from her sister in two days, her vehicle was missing and she wasn’t answering her phone. Toole flew to Texas, headed for the Mexican border with a one-way plane ticket, when U.S. authorities sent him back to Canada where he was arrested. He pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in Kentville Supreme Court on Sept. 1. The offence carries a life sentence with no chance of parole for a minimum of 10 years and a maximum of 25 years. The court documents do not state any motive or say how Toole killed Jones. He is due back in court on Oct. 16 for a status update and to set a date for sentencing. For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
