Grandson charged with second-degree murder in death of Viola Erb
Police have charged Viola Erb’s grandson with second-degree murder in the 88-year-old woman's death.
Erb, the co-founder of major Canadian trucking company Erb Transport, was found dead inside her Baden, Ont. home on Saturday.
On Thursday, Waterloo regional police said they had arrested and charged 39-year-old Erick Buhr of Wilmot Township with second-degree murder.
In a statement, the Erb Group of Companies identified Buhr as Erb’s grandson and confirmed he was a previous employee of the company.
“As you might expect, this is a highly difficult and emotional time for the family,” Erb Transport said. “They wish to thank those who have offered their support and prayers during this difficult time.”
Buhr is scheduled to appear in court on Oct. 19.
LOSS 'FELT ACROSS THE TOWNSHIP'
According to her obituary, Erb “passed away suddenly and unexpectedly at her residence in Baden.”
She was born in Alberta and later met her husband Vernon in Kitchener.
In 1959, the couple co-founded Erb Transport, now one of the biggest transportation companies in the country.
She was a dispatcher, bookkeeper and payroll administrator, according to her obituary.
After retirement, she enjoyed quilting and gardening.
In a statement issued Wednesday, the Wilmot Mayor Les Armstrong, said the township is deeply saddened by news of Erb’s death.
“Viola Erb has been a significant contributor to the Wilmot community,” Armstrong said, adding she leaves behind a legacy of generosity, kindness, humility, and community service.
“She will forever be remembered as a community builder. The loss of Viola will be felt across the township, and our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Erb Family,” Armstrong said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Grandparent scam: London, Ont., senior beats fraudsters not once, but twice
It was a typical Tuesday for Mabel Beharrell, 84, until she got the call that would turn her world upside down. Her teenaged grandson was in trouble and needed her help.
Deaths of 4 people on Sask. farm confirmed as murder-suicide
The deaths of four people on a farm near the Saskatchewan village of Neudorf have been confirmed a murder-suicide.
CRA no longer requiring 'bare trust' reporting in 2023 tax return
The Canada Revenue Agency announced Thursday it will not require 'bare trust' reporting from Canadians that it introduced for the 2024 tax season, just four days before the April 2 deadline.
Full parole granted to man convicted in notorious 'McDonald's murders' in Cape Breton
The Parole Board of Canada has granted full parole to one of three men convicted in the brutal murders of three McDonald's restaurant workers in Cape Breton more than 30 years ago.
Incident on Calgary's Reconciliation Bridge comes to safe resolution
Nearly 20 hours after a man climbed and remained perched on top of the Reconciliation Bridge in downtown Calgary, the situation came to a peaceful resolution.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
George Washington family secrets revealed by DNA from unmarked 19th century graves
Genetic analysis has shed light on a long-standing mystery surrounding the fates of U.S. President George Washington's younger brother Samuel and his kin.
'We won't forget': How some Muslims view Poilievre's stance on Israel-Hamas war
A spokesman for a regional Muslim advocacy group says Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's stance on the Israel-Hamas war could complicate his party's relationship with Muslim Canadians.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.