Man pleads not guilty in stabbing death of young Prince George, B.C., mother of 2

British ColumbiaZain Xavier Wood, 25, is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Isabelle Thomas, who was 22 when she was found dead in her home at the Alpine Village townhouse complex in Prince George, B.C.Zain Wood is charged with 1st-degree murder in death of Isabelle ThomasAndrew Kurjata · CBC News · Posted: Sep 03, 2025 1:18 PM EDT | Last Updated: September 3Isabelle Thomas holds two drums she made in a drum-making class. Her accused killer, Zain Xavier Wood, pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder on Tuesday. (Submitted by Leslie Thomas)A B.C. man has pleaded not guilty to a charge of first-degree murder in the stabbing death of a young mother of two in Prince George.Zain Xavier Wood, 25, is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Isabelle Thomas, who was 22 when she was found dead in her home at the Alpine Village townhouse complex in Prince George, which police said resulted from a home invasion on July 18, 2023.Thomas was born and raised in Prince George, is a member of the Nadleh Whut’en First Nation and worked as a dietary aid, according to friends and family.Described as a loving and outgoing mother, Thomas “always had a smile on her face,” her mother Leslie Thomas said following her death, adding she enjoyed learning about her culture and taking part in community activities.WATCH | Isabelle Thomas mourned: 22-year-old mother of 2 killed in home invasionFamily has identified Isabelle Thomas as the victim of a homicide in Prince George, B.C. Her mother, Leslie Thomas, describes her as a kind and loving woman who had big plans for her life.According to police and Crown prosecutors, Thomas was stabbed to death in her home, in front of her six-year-old and six-month-old daughters, in a deliberate and planned manner.Wood, appearing in court on Tuesday, pleaded not guilty to the charge.First-degree murder carries a mandatory minimum sentence of life in prison with no chance of parole for 25 years.The trial is scheduled to last for five weeks.