THUNDER BAY — A woman who pleaded guilty in connection to the 2019 fatal beating of Tanya Andy is scheduled to be sentenced in the new year.
Ashley Potson pleaded guilty to one count of manslaughter in connection to Andy’s death in October. She is scheduled to be sentenced on the manslaughter charge and for breaching various court orders on March 26, 2021, according to court documents.
Potson and her co-accused, Patrick Menson, were initially jointly charged with second-degree murder after Andy’s body was found severely beaten by a passerby on a bike path in March 2019 in Thunder Bay’s County Fair area.
Following a preliminary hearing in July, the Crown filed a new indictment against Potson and Menson jointly charging them with one count of manslaughter.
An agreed statement of facts read by the Crown in October said Andy, Menson and Potson were drinking and consuming drugs on the night of March 18, 2019.
Potson told police they walked to the pathway behind the Landmark Inn where they continued to drink and consume drugs. At one point, Andy began accusing Potson of stealing which started a heated argument.
Court heard Andy grabbed Potson by the hair in a violent manner to which Potson responded to by striking her several times with a closed fist until she fell to the ground.
The attack continued until Menson intervened and told Potson to grab her belongings and leave. Potson admitted she was unable to assess the injuries she had inflicted on Andy before leaving due to the dark lighting in the area.
Andy's body was found by a passerby in the early morning hours of March 19, 2019. An autopsy report determined Andy died from blunt force trauma to her head and neck area.
After Potson entered her guilty plea in October, Menson was released from custody on court-ordered conditions including not to communicate with Potson and three of Andy’s family members.
Menson is scheduled to return to court on Dec. 16 for an update on his case from the Crown.
