Kelsey Felker’s family members and friends sat crying in a Kitchener courtroom today as details of her gruesome murder and dismemberment were disclosed.

After more than three years after being arrested in connection with the death of Kelsey Felker, accused Stephen Johnson has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder.

According to the “Agreed Statement of Facts” read in court Monday, Johnson and Felker first met in late December of 2012 when the two engaged in a prostitution transaction.  They texted, called and saw each other a number of times in the following weeks, many times meeting up at a crack house of Felker’s choosing.

James Marentette, Johnson’s lawyer, says “What he wanted was to make a life with her.”

On the night of January 17, Felker visited Johnson’s apartment on Frederick Street.  A group of crack dealers came to the apartment and sold Felker cocaine.  Johnson, who had been consuming an increasing amount of crack since meeting Kelsey, got into an argument with her and became enraged.

Johnson struck her in the left cheek bone.  He then grabbed her by the throat and held her for an uncertain amount of time, until he realized that she was no longer struggling.  He knew Kelsey was dead.

Before leaving for his 4 a.m. shift, he moved her body to the balcony.  (The temperature dropped to -10 Celsius that night.)

A few days later, Stephen Johnson began the process of dismembering the body of Kelsey Felker. 

Kelsey’s severed torso was found in a dumpster outside Johnson’s Kitchener apartment building. Other remains were later found near Chicopee and Woodside Park in Kitchener.  Johnson was arrested about two weeks later.

Crown Attorney Paul McDermott says “The nature of the offence is difficult to put into works… it’s as brutal conduct imaginable.”

Kelsey’s brother shared his victim impact statement which in part said “Know there are still some of Kelsey’s remains out there somewhere, is a very haunting fact to our family to say the very least.  How can anyone be at peace know that?  Kelsey was a daughter, mother, aunt, sister and friend.  She is and forever will be, dearly missed by all who knew her, including her five children who will never have the chance to.”

Johnson has been sentenced to life in prison, ineligible for parole for twelve years, based on recommendation from the lawyers.