Update: The Brentwood Five & Matthew DeGrood

What do you all think of perpetrators getting the status of "Not Criminally Responsible"

Welcome back my spooky friends! In Season 13; we told you all the story about Matthew DeGrood. On April 15, 2014; Matthew, who is the son of a police inspector, stabbed five young adults to death in the Brentwood neighbourhood of Calgary, Alberta in Canada. They were all at a party that marked the end of the school year, and Matthew’s acts made this incident the deadliest massacre in Calgary’s history.

Matthew was charged with five counts of first degree murder, and was ordered to stand trial on May 29, 2015. He was found mentally fit enough to stand trial after a psychiatric assessment, but was found to be not criminally responsible for his actions. It was determined that Matthew was going through a psychotic episode during the killings, and suffered from schizophrenia. He believed during his psychosis that the people at the party were vampires and werewolves, and he had to kill them before they killed him.

After it was declared that Matthew was not criminally responsible, he was sent to a mental health facility in Calgary before he was transferred to another facility in the city of Edmonton. In 2022, Matthew’s lawyer filed an appeal to the Alberta Review Board demanding more freedom, so Matthew could better integrate back into society. The request for a conditional discharge was declined, since it was determined that Matthew was still a significant safety risk to society. In 2023, Matthew’s attorney went to Albert’s Court of Appeal claiming that the board’s findings were biased. He asked for Matthew to be immediately discharged, but the courts denied this request. The lawyer then sent an appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada. They denied this appeal on March 14, 2024.

But that doesn’t mean that Matthew did not get more freedom. Each year, Matthew DeGrood is assessed by the Criminal Code Review Board, which now goes by the name of the Alberta Review Board. They are the ones who decides if Matthew remains a threat to public safety. To determine this risk, the board looks at the likelihood that he will have another psychotic episode, and tries to assess what would happen if he did. There are three legislated options for the board to consider for individuals deemed as not criminally responsible: be held under a full warrant, granted a conditional discharge, or granted an absolute discharge.

During the years, Matthew’s freedoms have increased. In October of 2023, he requested to be transferred to be near his parents in Calgary. That was approved, and he is now living in a group home described as highly structured with 24 hour supervision. Matthew continues to fight for more freedom, but will not acknowledge that this move brings great upset to the families of his victims. After all, Matthew’s mental health care team has stated that even though Matthew’s condition is in remission, he is often not compliant concerning taking his medication. If Matthew does not take his prescribed two medications - he will quickly relapse. The courts recognize that Matthew’s stability is largely attributed to this medication. His progress has only been made in a highly structured setting, and he does not have any established record of independent living. Because of this: he did not get the discharge that he longs for, but his yearly assessment is almost here. I am sure there will be further update soon.

This case reminds me of another NCR (not criminally responsible) case that started on July 30, 2008. This case gives us insight into what will happen with Matthew DeGrood’s current situation. On that day, 22 year old Tim McLean was riding on a Greyhound bus about 19 miles or 30 kilometres west of Portage la Prairie in Manitoba, Canada. He was a carnival barker, and was returning home after working at a fair in the city of Edmonton. The bus stopped at the town of Erickson, where they picked up a passenger named Vince Li. At first, Li sat near the front of the bus, and then he moved to sit next to McLean. McLean soon fell asleep with his head resting on a bus window, while listening to music on his headphones.

Suddenly, Li pulled out a large knife. He stabbed the unsuspecting McLean in the neck and chest. The driver of the bus pulled to the side of the road, where he and the other passengers ran out of the bus. This is when the driver and two passengers tried to rescue McLean, but were chased away by Li who was trying to slash them with his knife from behind the closed bus door. The police were called, but before they could arrive - Li decapitated McLean. He then started severing other body parts, and eating McLean’s flesh.

When the police arrived some time later, they realized they were now in a stand off. They tried to negotiate with Li while he continued to defile the corpse, and eat parts of McLean’s body. At about 1:30 am; Li tried to escape through a window. The police then shot him with a taser, hand cuffed him, and put him in the back of a police car. When there, the police found McLean’s ear, nose, and tongue in Li’s pockets.

Li immigrated to Canada on June 11, 2001. He remained a Chinese national until he became a Canadian citizen in November of 2006. Those who knew him did not see any signs of trouble until he converted to Christianity. He started hearing what he said was the voice of god talking to him. This voice called him “the third story of the Bible”, and told him that he was destined to save the world from an alien invasion. To prepare for this, the voice told him to regularly travel through Canada either by foot or bus. He would carry the knife he used to kill McLean on his person, due to his paranoid belief that he was in constant threat of being killed by alien infiltrators.

Li was diagnosed with schizophrenia, and he plead NCR in the courts on account of a mental disorder. He claimed that he believed at the time that McLean was a demon disguised as a human, and that he needed to be destroyed. He felt he had to mutilate the body to prevent him from coming back to life. The voices told him if he did not kill McLean - he would be killed himself. Li was determined to be not responsible for his actions, and was committed to a mental health facility.

Just like in the case of Matthew, Li was given more and more freedom with time. By May of 2011, it was reported that he was responding well to his treatment. He was giving day passes, because he was being compliant with his medication regime. Li admitted guilt, and apologized to the McLean family for his actions. He then moved into a group home, where Li legally changed his name to Will Lee Baker as part of his discharge process. On February 10, 2017 - Li was granted a full discharge with no legal obligations or restrictions. The courts expected that Li would continue with treatment, but that brought no relief to McLean’s family. They felt that there was no justice in this case, which is the same feelings that the loved ones of Matthew’s victims feel.

So my question to you all is this: do you think those who are determined as being not criminally responsible should not be allowed freedom from their crimes, or do you think that everyone deserves a second chance when it comes to their mental health? Let me know what you believe in the comment section below.

And if you want to learn more about the DeGrood case; listen to our Season 13 episode concerning the Brentwood Five. You can find this episode in your favourite podcast provider. Another way to listen is by going to our webpage:

https://horrifying-history-shop.fourthwall.com

And while you are there; be sure to check out all stuff on our website. It’s the place to be for everything Horrifying History, and if you become a member of our fan club you will get a permanent discount in our store as long as you are a member as well as a new bonus episode each week. After all - membership has its benefits!

…and until next time…