The man accused in the death of a Tsawwassen man last year has pleaded guilty to manslaughter.
Last February, 21-yearold Taylor Johnson was found dead in a vacant Langely home that was being used as a marijuana grow-operation.
Jesse River Hill, of Surrey, was initially charged with second-degree murder in the case but last week pleaded guilty to manslaughter.
Johnson was found dead by police on the evening of Feb. 26, 2013 after officers were called to the residence in the 2000-block of 200th Street in Langley to check on his well being.
The officers discovered Johnson's body as well as a marijuana grow-op on the rural property.
Police believe the murder was a result of the suspect trying to steal the crop. Johnson was working as a caretaker at the home and was not involved with the grow-op. He did not have a criminal record.
"It was a senseless act that tragically took the life
of Taylor," IHIT spokesperson Jennifer Pound said at the time the charges against Hill were announced.
"Taylor was a good kid," she said. "He was naive, and he made a bad decision that ultimately cost him his life."
Johnson was the son of Paul Johnson, lead pastor at South Delta Baptist Church.
The pastor and his family moved to Tsawwassen in 2007, joining the church in November after serving as a teaching pastor at Christ Community Church in Tucson, Arizona. One of six siblings, Taylor graduated
from South Delta Secondary and was enrolled in the Advanced Music Production (AMP) program at the Nimbus School of Recording Arts in Vancouver. He was set to graduate in the weeks following his death and was excited about his impending career.
His family described him as a gentle young man who was trusting and caring of others.
After his son's death,
Paul Johnson said Taylor was "especially known for his gentle spirit" and was well liked by his peers at school and in the workplace. He described his as a typical young adult "working odd jobs to
make ends meet."
A sentencing hearing for Hill is scheduled for September. He has been in custody since his arrest last October.
