Estranged husband charged with murder in death of Wilkie educator

RCMP have charged Wesley John Veit with one count of first-degree murder in the death of Heidi Veit.

Veit’s body was found in a rural area outside Wilkie, leaving people in the community of 1,300 in shock and disbelief.

Wesley John, Veit’s estranged husband, was taken into custody at a residence in the RM of Buffalo around 6:50 p.m. Wednesday.

His first court appearance has not been scheduled at this time.

Veit was an educational assistant in Wilkie and one of the coaches for the 2016 regional champion McLurg High School wrestling team. She was also involved with the school’s library.

“Everyone is so sad that something that bad has happened to our small town,” said friend Cathy Heilman.
 
Heilman remembered Veit as a kind and generous person who was very dedicated to her school and community.
 
“The town is hurting and in particular the school where she worked because she was very much a part of that school,” Heilman said. “She was very, very well liked.”

Heilman said it’s a tragedy people are struggling to come to terms with.
 
“We will heal. It will be OK sometime, but not now,” Heilman said.
 
Tributes began popping up on social media after word spread of Veit’s death.
 
“You were a mother to everyone’s children,” Helen Urlacher wrote on Facebook.
 
In another post, Marilyn Dewan said, “You loved everyone, showed compassion to all, had words of wisdom for everyone.”
 
Wilkie is located around 55 kilometres south of North Battleford.

– With files from 650 CKOM’s Brent Bosker.