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Arrest made in murder of former Estevan woman

Toronto Police have made an arrest in a 30-year-old cold case that has an Estevan connection. Ernest Westergard has been charged with the murder of Donna Proian on June 23, 1981.


Toronto Police have made an arrest in a 30-year-old cold case that has an Estevan connection.

Ernest Westergard has been charged with the murder of Donna Proian on June 23, 1981. Proian, whose maiden name was Pardun, was raised in Estevan and graduated from the Estevan Collegiate Institute. Upon graduation she moved to France where she met her husband Charles. The couple later moved to Toronto. Proian was employed at the University of Toronto at the time of her death.

A press conference was held this afternoon in Toronto where police announced they had charged Westergard with her murder.

Westergard, who was Proian's neighbor, was already in prison after being found guilty of another murder 17 years ago.

For more details, please see the Dec. 21 edition of The Mercury.