Many in the community have been reaching out and looking for updates about Esther Jones, the suspicious missing person case, which is now being treated as a homicide.
This case is now in the courts and there have been different court appearances since charges were laid in September. Most have been standard with no real pertinent updates.
Dale Toole has been charged with first degree murder in the death of Esther Jones. To date, Jones remains have not been located.
There is another court date scheduled, and a preliminary inquiry has been set for November of 2025. Multiple days have been set aside for this inquiry. Toole remains in custody and has not applied for bail.
A preliminary inquiry is a hearing that determines if there is enough evidence to try a person accused of a serious crime.
On September 3rd, 2024, Esther Jones, 55, was reported missing from the Greenwood area. Jones was last seen at the Kingston Bible College along Bridge Street in Greenwood and had not been seen since.
On September 4th, RCMP officers located her vehicle abandoned nearby, along Bowlby Park Road. It was at this time the Southwest Nova RCMP Major Crime Unit assumed the investigation.
Officers from various divisions including Forensic Identification Services, Police Dog Services, Air Services, Tactical Support Group, Kings & Annapolis General Duty members and the Nova Scotia Medical Examiner’s office spend days assisting, investigating the area and executing multiple search warrants in various locations.
Throughout the investigation, officers were able to gather numerous pieces of evidence and information, treating the case as a homicide, officers were able to identify a suspect, Dale Toole.
The RCMP with assistance from the United States Homeland Security Investigations, the RCMP’s liaison officers in the United States and Mexico and United States Customs and Border Protection, tracked his movements, leading to him being detained by United States Authorities in Texas on September 12th.
Dale Toole was deported back to Canada where he was arrested for first degree murder.
Our thoughts remain with the Jones family and community, and continue to as this case continues in the courts.
Some Information has been sourced by RCMP Nova Scotia and Post Media.
Adrian J.
