Canadian mother, 48, is arrested for 'faking death of herself and her son, 7, amid custody battle by making it look like they'd drowned before fleeing to Oregon and living under friend's name'

  • Dawn Marie Walker, 48, now faces federal charges of aggravated identity theft
  • She allegedly let cops believe she had been swept away with her seven-year-old
  • A passerby flagged to cops a purse, a fishing pole and blanket that had been left
  • Her truck was found nearby and a $10,000 reward was put out for information
  • She was rumbled when cops realized she allegedly was using a friend's identity

A Canadian woman accused of faking her and her son's death and moving to Oregon to escape a custody battle has been arrested.

Dawn Marie Walker faces federal charges of aggravated identity theft and possession of false identification documents after the brazen move.

The 48-year-old allegedly let cops believe she had been swept away with her seven-year-old son while fishing on a riverbank near Saskatoon.

A passerby had flagged to officers a purse, a broken fishing pole halfway in the water and a blanket that was left on the ground on July 23.

Her truck was also found nearby and a $10,000 reward was put out for information on their whereabouts.

But she was rumbled when cops realized she had allegedly been using a friend's identity to access her bank accounts and had made it into the US.

Dawn Marie Walker faces federal charges of aggravated identity theft and possession of false identification documents after the brazen move

Dawn Marie Walker faces federal charges of aggravated identity theft and possession of false identification documents after the brazen move

A search of her car also allegedly revealed notes showing how she had planned her disappearance, including 'dye hair' and 'cover tattoo'

A search of her car also allegedly revealed notes showing how she had planned her disappearance, including 'dye hair' and 'cover tattoo'

The checklist went on: '1. Negative Covid test 2. Fishing Rod 3. Phone (dead) 4. Vehicle/bike 5. Dye hair 6. Cover tattoo'

The checklist went on: '1. Negative Covid test 2. Fishing Rod 3. Phone (dead) 4. Vehicle/bike 5. Dye hair 6. Cover tattoo'

They tracked her blue Chevrolet Equinox to an Airbnb in Oregon City that was also booked under the friend's name, an affidavit seen by Oregon Live says.

Walker was arrested on Friday following the manhunt but allegedly told cops: 'He doesn't want to be with his father.'

A search of her car also allegedly revealed notes showing how she had planned her disappearance, including 'dye hair' and 'cover tattoo'.

A map shows the distance between where Walker abandoned her belongings in Saskatoon and where she was later found and arrested

A map shows the distance between where Walker abandoned her belongings in Saskatoon and where she was later found and arrested

The checklist went on: '1. Negative Covid test 2. Fishing Rod 3. Phone (dead) 4. Vehicle/bike 5. Dye hair 6. Cover tattoo.'

Another said 'park car (black wig)', 'ditch phone in water,' 'ditch vehicle by bridge' and 'find nearest border'.

Cops also found a cellphone, a large sum of Canadian currency, Visa cards, a Tangerine bank debit card in her friend's name, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada Certificate of Indian Status card and a Saskatchewan driver's license.

The 48-year-old allegedly let cops believe she had been swept away with her seven-year-old son while fishing on a riverbank near Saskatoon

The 48-year-old allegedly let cops believe she had been swept away with her seven-year-old son while fishing on a riverbank near Saskatoon

A passerby had flagged to officers a purse, a broken fishing pole halfway in the water and a blanket that was left on the ground on July 23

A passerby had flagged to officers a purse, a broken fishing pole halfway in the water and a blanket that was left on the ground on July 23

Her son was taken care of by law enforcement officers and his father was told that he was alive.

Walker was held in Multnomah County Detention Center and charged with aggravated identity theft and possession of false documents of identification.

She appeared in federal court in Portland on Monday afternoon where prosecutors argued she should remain in custody pending extradition.

Canadian authorities are also expected to push for parental abduction and public mischief by misleading the police.

Assistant US Attorney Scott Kerin told the court: 'The elaborate scheme she engaged in was designed for one purpose – to avoid the law and not be found.

'This was not a spur of the moment event. The defendant put time and a lot of effort into planning her crime.'

She will appear in court again on Wednesday afternoon where she will plead to get bail.

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