THUNDER BAY — A Thunder Bay woman originally from Big Beaver House has pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the 2020 stabbing death of her mother, 47-year-old Lydia Rose Jacob, at a north-side apartment.
Lyrina Jacob, 23, appeared before Justice Helen Pierce in a Thunder Bay Courtroom on Friday where she pleaded not guilty to the original charge of second-degree murder but guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter.
According to an agreed statement of facts read into the court record, a 911 call was received the afternoon of June 19, 2020 just before 2 p.m., advising that a woman had stabbed her mother inside a Dawson Street apartment complex.
While officers with the Thunder Bay Police Service were en route, a second 911 call was received from Lyrina Jacob, saying her mother, Lydia Jacob, was unresponsive.
When police entered the apartment, blood was observed in the entrance hallway. A further search of the apartment uncovered Lydia Jacob lying in a bedroom in the middle of a bed frame with no mattress.
Officers observed a significant amount of blood in the area, as well as a stab wound on Lydia Jacob’s upper body.
Lydia Jacob was unresponsive and one of the officers began CPR. Lyrina Jacob was still in the apartment at the time and was taken into custody.
When paramedics arrived, Lydia Jacob was pronounced dead.
With the assistance of the Nishnawbe Aski Police Service, investigators learned a witness received a social media message from Lyrina Jacob just before police were called on June 19, 2020.
The message read: “Mom is on her last breath. I stabbed her many times.”
Further investigation revealed Lyrina and Lydia Jacob had been consuming alcohol the night before and continued to do so into the morning of June 19. Lyrina was described as being heavily intoxicated.
Lyrina Jacob admitted to the facts as read and there was a finding of guilt by Justice Pierce.
A pre-sentence report and Gladue report have been ordered. The matter has been adjourned to late February 2023 to set a date for sentencing.
