A Saskatoon woman accused of staging the disappearance of herself and her son released a statement to CBC News from an Oregon prison.
Dawn, 48, has been the subject of a massive missing persons manhunt after her walker disappeared along with her son about two weeks ago. She was found and arrested in Oregon City on Friday and has been in U.S. custody since.
"I left Saskatoon because I was concerned for my safety and my son's safety." said Walker in her written statement to CBC News. Although she didn't name the person she fears, Walker had previously filed domestic violence allegations against her ex, the father of her 7-year-old son.
Police say the allegations of domestic violence were investigated but were unsubstantiated.
Walker's friend Eleanor Her Sunchild recorded Walker's remarks during a visit to Portland's Multnomah County Jail on Monday.
Walker has been indicted in the United States on aggravated identity theft charges, and if she is convicted, she will be sentenced to at least two years in prison. . She also faces criminal charges in Canada for parental abduction and public mischief. Police allege Walker faked her and her son's deaths as part of an elaborate scheme involving Last Friday I was able to locate Walker and her son by tracking bank transactions for gas, food, Netflix and Airbnb rentals.
Walker says the judicial system has failed
She said she had previously filed a domestic violence report with the Saskatoon Police Department and the RCMP and was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. did not help me.I reported my concerns to child protection authorities and again nothing was done.I defended myself as an Indigenous woman and defended non-Indigenous people. We're fighting a system that continually fails to protect men," Walker said.
"So many women and children before us had to flee for their lives to protect their children." Before being discovered by , her friends and family suggested that fraud or interpersonal violence may have been involved in her disappearance. 36} . Saskatoon Police were asked about the allegations on Monday. No charges were filed as a result of that investigation," said Saskatoon Police Deputy Chief Randy Hausman.
was also directly alleged byCKOM to his ex-girlfriend, father of a 7-year-old child, before his son was discovered.
Andrew Jansen toldCKOM that he would never hurt Dawn or [her son]. That's all I can say," he said. CBC News attempted to speak directly with Jansen.
Walker said he "didn't have a choice."
People who prayed and searched for her after she was declared missing, who was delivering messages to friends.
"I apologize to anyone I have hurt. I have no choice No one listened to me.I love my son very much.He's my only child.I [him]," she said. She said she witnessed something involving the boy.
"When I return to the land of the Treaty, and more of my story will be revealed," she said. Walker's family also emailed a statement to CBC News. They are pushing for Walker's extradition to Canada and encouraging others to do the same.
"We, her supporters, urge the Government of Canada and the Government of Saskatchewan to initiate immediate extradition proceedings so that Dawn can return to Canada and deal with her problems. I urge you to do so." In the United States, we support Walker as a friend.
The family said Walker "deserved our compassion and understanding....It is not easy being an Indigenous woman in Saskatchewan. All she wanted was to raise her son in peace."
Saskatoon Police said a criminal investigation was underway against Walker and those who may have helped her.
A rally in support of Walker, who is due to appear in court next month, is being held Tuesday night at the Legislative Building in Regina.
