Dawn Walker to be extradited to Canada on Wednesday

The Saskatoon mother accused of faking her death and that of a seven-year-old boy and then fleeing to Oregon City, Ore., is to be sent back to Canada on Wednesday.

According to The Oregonian reporter Maxine Bernstein — who was in the courtroom for Dawn Walker’s appearance Tuesday — the 48-year-old Saskatoon woman waived a formal extradition proceeding and agreed to be turned over to Canadian authorities in an informal arrangement.

“She would be released to the custody (Wednesday) morning of U.S. Department of Homeland Security agents and they would drive her to the Canadian border (Wednesday) and turn her over to Canadian law enforcement,” said Bernstein.

Walker made her court appearance via video from the U.S. Marshals’ lockup in the Federal Courthouse in downtown Portland and listened to the proceeding by telephone.

Scott Kerin, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon, told the court that returning Walker to Canada is in the best interest for both countries.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Stacie F. Beckerman approved the informal arrangement.

While Walker is coming back to Canada, her U.S. charges of aggravated identity theft and possession of false identification documents will remain on the docket.

“Those charges will remain pending here,” said Bernstein. “They will monitor what occurs with her prosecution in Canada. They will maintain an arraignment date for her on the federal charge in the U.S. for September. Obviously she wouldn’t be appearing in person, but could call in for that.”

Walker’s defence lawyer said her client had strong community ties in Saskatchewan, claimed her client was a victim of intimate partner abuse, and said she suffered from PTSD.

“(Walker’s) defence lawyer said that her client doesn’t admit any guilt and the reason she’s going forward with this arrangement is so that she can promptly return to Canada to deal with the charges. A formal extradition hearing would have taken much longer,” said Bernstein.

Walker was reported missing on July 24. Her truck and some personal items were found at Chief Whitecap Park just south of Saskatoon.

Searches were conducted in the area, but to no avail. A candlelight vigil and walk were also held for the pair before they were found in Oregon on Aug. 5.

The Saskatoon Police Service’s deputy chief of operations, Randy Huisman, said Walker is facing charges in Canada of abduction and public mischief.

— With files from The Canadian Press