Woman accused of abducting son, faking deaths, intends to go to trial

Dawn Walker, the Saskatoon woman accused of abducting her son and fleeing to the United States after faking their deaths, intends to go to trial.

Walker and her seven-year-old son became the subject of a police investigation that started as a missing persons case in July after her truck was found abandoned at a park near the South Saskatchewan River in Saskatoon.

After two weeks of frantic searches and tearful vigils in the area, the pair was found in Oregon City by American authorities. They were both quickly returned to Canada after Walker waived the formal extradition process, and she was ultimately granted bail in September.

Walker — an author and executive with the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations — is facing nine criminal charges including child abduction, identity theft and forging a passport. She also faces two charges in the United States related to allegations of illegal entry into the country.

On Tuesday, Walker announced her intention to proceed to trial on the Canadian charges, and requested a trial by a judge alone rather than by a jury. She also waived her right to a preliminary hearing.

Walker is to be back in court Thursday.

–With files from The Canadian Press