On April 21 the Estevan Police Service began investigating what they first publicly identified as a suspicious death. Not long after, EPS confirmed they were investigating the first murder in Estevan since 2008.
Leslie Erin Dwyre was found dead in her Petterson Drive home April 21 after the EPS was notified of an incident at 10:30 that evening.
On April 23, Nathan Mullen, who had been in a relationship with Dwyre, was charged with second-degree murder and made his first court appearance in Estevan provincial court on April 24.
Mullen has remained in custody on remand ever since and has yet to enter pleas to the charges. His next court appearance is on Jan. 19.
It was under these horrible circumstances that Estevan learned about two young people in the community: a school teacher murdered in her home and a man accused of killing her.
Dwyre was 27, a Grade 8 teacher at Hillcrest School who had lived in Estevan for a couple of years and was originally from Brockville, Ont. She previously taught at Weldon School in Bienfait.
Mullen, 30, is originally from Ottawa and had been living and working in Estevan for at least two years.
Police said Mullen and Dwyre had been living together at the time of her death and told the Mercury the murder was the result of a domestic situation.
Estevan’s new chief of police, Paul Ladouceur, was just one week into his new position when the investigation into Dwyre’s death began. Ladouceur came to Estevan via Brockville, where Dwyre was from.
As the Brockville Recorder and Times first reported, Dwyre is the daughter of Chris Dwyre who is the town's fire chief and was a colleague and friend of Ladouceur.
In the midst of the investigation Ladouceur said it was a difficult time for the Dwyre family. As for his connection, he said it was an unfortunate aspect that comes with being a police officer in a smaller community.
Dwyre was remembered fondly by her colleagues. Hillcrest Principal David Gillingham said the school was a better one with her in it.
“She had one of those positive, bubbly personalities, a great sense of humour, and she was definitely dedicated to the kids,” he told the Mercury.
