Man charged with 1st-degree murder in 1998 killing of pregnant woman in Toronto
Toronto police have made a significant breakthrough in a cold case homicide from 1998, charging a 50-year-old man with first-degree murder in connection to the death of 24-year-old Donna Oglive. Oglive was tragically found dead in a parking lot at 130 Carlton St. in March 1998, having been strangled, according to Det.-Sgt. Steve Smith.
Oglive, who was four months pregnant at the time of her death, had only been in Toronto for five weeks. Originally from British Columbia, she was working as a sex worker, and authorities believe her death may have occurred during a “sex trade transaction.”
The accused individual, hailing from Gander, Newfoundland, was apprehended at Toronto Pearson International Airport in the early hours of Thursday. At the time of the murder, he was residing in Scarborough and working as a truck driver.
Detective Steve Smith emphasized the importance of understanding the accused’s activities over the past 25 years to ensure there are no other potential victims or unsolved cases linked to him. The suspect, currently in custody, made a virtual appearance in bail court on Thursday morning.
The breakthrough in the case came through investigative genetic genealogy, a technique that led police to the accused’s family and ultimately provided the evidence needed to link him to Oglive’s murder. Despite the challenges posed by the lack of a match in the National DNA Data Bank, advancements in forensic technology allowed authorities to bring closure to this long-standing case.
Smith expressed gratitude to the Sex Workers Alliance of Toronto for their support in keeping Oglive’s case at the forefront throughout the years. With little family in Canada, aside from one individual residing outside of Ontario, Oglive’s tragic death remained unsolved for over two decades.
Toronto police have been actively investigating over 800 historical homicides, making solving cases like Oglive’s a significant achievement for law enforcement. The dedication and perseverance of investigators have finally brought justice for Oglive and her loved ones.
The case of Donna Oglive was featured in a YouTube video released by Toronto police in December 2019, as well as a police podcast in October 2021 focusing on unsolved homicides. Anyone with information related to the case is urged to come forward and assist authorities in ensuring justice is served.
