For nearly three decades, the brutal murder of 24-year-old Donna Oglive remained unsolved—until a groundbreaking forensic effort led by The Woodlands-based Othram lab finally brought justice.
It’s the kind of case that haunts investigators for years; a murder that slipped through the cracks of time, leaving a family shattered and a city searching for answers. But after nearly three decades, justice is finally on the horizon for 24-year-old Oglive, whose life was cut short in 1998.
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Back then, Donna, a British Columbia resident, was in Toronto just for a short stay. In March 1998, Toronto Police discovered Oglive’s lifeless body, strangled, in the back of a parking lot.
For years, investigators had a DNA profile, an anonymous male’s, but no match, and no leads. Despite their tireless efforts over the decades, including public appeals and podcast features, the case went cold.
That is, until 2022 when the Toronto Police Service sent the forensic evidence to Othram, a lab in The Woodlands, Texas, known for its cutting-edge genetic testing.
Othram scientists created a comprehensive DNA profile of the suspect, and the results sent investigators down a new trail. What they uncovered led them to 50-year-old Ronald Gordon Ackerman, a man who had been living quietly in Newfoundland.
On February 6, 2025, Ackerman was arrested at Toronto Pearson Airport as he arrived from Edmonton. He’s now facing charges of first-degree murder.
“Answers are now possible for everyone, regardless of circumstances, historical origins, geography, or time period,” said Othram CEO David Mittelman. “We are honored to assist the Toronto Police Service in leveraging advanced forensic technology to resolve long-standing cases and deliver justice.”
For anyone with additional information about Ronald Ackerman or this case, Toronto Police are urging you to come forward. Call 416-808-7400, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), or submit a tip online at 222tips.com.