Sask. woman, accused of faking own death, says she had ‘no choice’ but to flee

The Saskatoon lady accused of staging the disappearance of herself and her son has issued a press release to CBC Information from an Oregon jail.

Daybreak Walker, 48, was the topic of an intensive lacking individuals search after she disappeared along with her son about two weeks in the past. She was discovered and arrested in Oregon Metropolis on Friday and has been detained within the U.S. since.

“I left Saskatoon as a result of I feared for my security and that of my son,” Walker stated in a written assertion to CBC Information. She did not identify the particular person she stated she fears, however Walker has beforehand made home violence allegations in opposition to her ex, who’s the daddy of her seven-year-old son. 

Police have stated the home violence allegations had been investigated, however unfounded. 

Walker’s good friend, Eleanore Sunchild, recorded Walker’s assertion throughout a go to on the Multnomah County Jail in Portland on Monday. 

Walker is charged within the U.S. with aggravated id theft, which, if convicted, would result in a minimal jail sentence of two years. She has additionally been criminally charged with parental abduction and public mischief in Canada. 

U.S. prosecutors allege that Walker faked her and her son’s deaths as a part of an elaborate scheme that concerned stolen identities and a fraudulent checking account. Police had been capable of find Walker and her son final Friday by following financial institution transactions for gasoline, meals, Netflix and Airbnb leases. 

Walker says justice system failed 

Walker stated she was “failed by the Saskatchewan Justice system, the household legislation system and baby safety.”

She stated she beforehand filed home abuse reviews with Saskatoon police and RCMP and has been identified with post-traumatic stress dysfunction.

“The police companies did nothing to help me. I reported my issues to the kid safety authorities and once more nothing was achieved. I’m preventing programs that repeatedly fail to guard me as an Indigenous lady and shield non-Indigenous males,” Walker stated.

“So many ladies and kids earlier than us have needed to run for his or her lives to guard their kids. The SPS and RCMP solely cared once they thought I used to be lifeless and the stress they had been below due to their blatant failures.”

Earlier than Walker was situated by police, her family and friends recommended foul play or interpersonal violence might be concerned in her disappearance. Saskatoon police had been requested Monday concerning the allegations. 

“Any potential or any earlier allegations made by Daybreak Walker had been completely investigated and no fees resulted on account of these investigations,” Saskatoon police Deputy Chief Randy Huisman stated. 

The allegations of home abuse had been additionally put on to her ex, the daddy of the seven-year-old, by CKOM earlier than Walker and her son had been discovered. 

Andrew Jansen advised CKOM he “would by no means damage Daybreak or [her son]. There isn’t any reality to any of that, and that is all I can say.” CBC Information has made makes an attempt to talk with Jansen instantly. 

Walker says she had ‘no selection’

In her assertion, Walker had a message for the handfuls of members of the family, pals and others who prayed and looked for her within the days after she was declared lacking.

“I apologize to anybody I damage. I used to be left with no selection. Nobody heard me. I like my son so very a lot. He’s my solely baby…I used to be motivated out of my immense love for [him],” she stated.

She stated she witnessed one thing involving the boy “that scared me to the core,” however didn’t elaborate.

“Extra will come out as I additional inform my story upon my return to our Treaty lands,” she stated.

Sunchild and Walker’s household additionally emailed written statements to CBC Information. They’re urgent for Walker’s extradition to Canada and inspiring others to do the identical. 

“We, her supporters, urge the Canadian and Saskatchewan governments to start extradition proceedings instantly so Daybreak can return to Canada to cope with her issues there,” stated Sunchild, a Cree lawyer in Saskatchewan who’s within the U.S. supporting Walker as a good friend.

The household stated Walker “deserves our compassion and understanding.… It is not simple being an Indigenous lady in Saskatchewan. All she wished to do was increase her son in peace.” 

Saskatoon police stated the legal investigation into Walker — and those that might have helped her — is ongoing. They stated there might be extra legal fees laid relying on the end result.

A rally is being held Tuesday night on the Legislature constructing in Regina in help of Walker, who seems again in court docket subsequent month.