Ashley Ames (Photo previously shared with rdnewsNOW by family members)

By Troy Gillard and Josh Hall

guilty pleas

Rocky Mountain House man admits to killing former common-law partner’s sister

Jun 15, 2021 | 11:13 AM

WARNING: This story contains graphic and disturbing details

A Rocky Mountain House woman was shot and killed by her sister’s former common-law partner nearly two years ago while trying to protect her.

Marshall Lawrence Stone, who is now 46 years old, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in Red Deer Court of Queen’s Bench on Monday for the July 26, 2019 shooting death of Ashley Ames.

Stone pleaded not guilty to the attempted murder of Alexis Ames, and guilty to unlawful use of a firearm against her.

According to the agreed statement of facts for the case, the three lived together in a townhouse in 2019 with three children between the ages of seven and 10. Two of the kids were Alexis’ while Ashley was the mother of one.

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The agreed statement of facts says that after stopping at a friend’s house after work on July 26, 2019, and drinking between five to eight beers throughout the afternoon and evening, Stone arrived home at around 7 p.m. and got into an argument with Alexis. Ashley was not home at the time as she was picking up dinner for her son.

All three children were in the living room next to the kitchen watching television when Stone went to his downstairs bedroom to retrieve a rifle and ammunition which he brought up to the kitchen where both sisters now were.

The court document says Stone then “pointed the rifle at Alexis, and Alexis deflected the rifle up toward the ceiling.”

Alexis then moved away from Stone toward the refrigerator as he fired a shot from the rifle. Alexis was not hit.

Ashley and Alexis then started screaming at Stone as he reloaded the rifle and pointed it at Alexis.

It was at that point when Ashley stepped between them.

“Marshall discharged the rifle at Ashley and struck her with a .22-calibre round to her face through her left eye. Ashley then fell to her knees crying,” the agreed statement of facts says.

As the children ran out the back door of the home screaming for help, Alexis picked up a chair and hit Stone with it. She suffered a cut to the right side of her head during a brief struggle with Stone before running out the front door.

Stone then fired his rifle one more time at Ashley, a shot that proved fatal.

According to the court document, “Marshall turned to Ashley who is now lying on her stomach on the kitchen floor. Marshall discharged a second .22-calibre round into the back of Ashley’s head.

Stone had left the home by the time RCMP arrived at the scene, leaving behind the rifle with a round still partially in the chamber. He called a friend before turning himself into the Rocky Mountain House RCMP detachment where he was taken into custody without incident.

Paramedics were unable to revive Ashley. An autopsy later determined the 28-year-old may have been able to survive the first gunshot, but that the second was immediately fatal.

Stone told officers he had little memory of the shooting, the agreed statement of facts says.

He remains in custody at this time and faces an automatic life sentence for his second-degree murder plea, along with parole ineligibility of between 10 to 25 years. His lawyer has requested a pre-sentence report and a Gladue report, which will consider Stone’s Indigenous background in sentencing.

Sentencing for Stone is scheduled for October 5.