In a breakthrough on a 26-year-old cold case, Toronto police have arrested 50-year-old Ronald Gordon Ackerman in connection with the 1998 murder of Donna Oglive, a pregnant woman found strangled in a downtown parking lot.
The arrest took place late Wednesday night at Toronto Pearson International Airport, where Ackerman was apprehended as he traveled home to Newfoundland from northern Alberta. He has since been charged with first-degree murder and is in custody.
Donna Oglive, 24 years old and pregnant with her second child, was found on March 8, 1998, in the parking lot at 130 Carlton Street, with obvious signs of trauma. She was later confirmed dead from strangulation. Investigators initially suspected a possible sex trade transaction gone wrong, leading to Oglive’s tragic death.
For years, police lacked sufficient evidence to make an arrest. However, the case was reinvigorated after advances in forensic technology, particularly Investigative Genetic Genealogy (IGG), helped lead to a match with Ackerman’s DNA. At the time of the murder, Ackerman was 25 years old and living in Scarborough, Ontario.
Detective Sergeant Steve Smith of the Toronto Police expressed the team’s determination in seeking justice for Oglive and her family. He stated, “Our thoughts remain with Donna’s family and friends, who have endured decades of grief and unanswered questions. We never give up on homicide victims, no matter how much time passes.”
Ackerman’s arrest comes after years of genetic analysis and investigative collaboration, with DNA from the crime scene failing to provide a match until recently. Now, authorities are focusing on Ackerman’s life over the past two decades to ensure there are no other victims linked to him.
As the investigation continues, police remain committed to uncovering the full scope of Ackerman’s activities during this time, potentially linking him to other crimes.
