Treatment Team Advocates Increased Freedom for Matthew de Grood

A Calgary man, Matthew de Grood, is advocating for increased freedom following a tragic incident in 2014 where he stabbed five individuals at a house party. De Grood was found not criminally responsible due to mental illness, specifically schizophrenia, at the time of the attack.

Treatment Team Advocates for Increased Freedom

At a recent hearing before Alberta’s Criminal Code Review Board, Dr. Sergio Santana, de Grood’s treating psychiatrist, argued for easing restrictions on his patient. Dr. Santana stated that de Grood is at a low risk of reoffending and is ready for greater privileges.

Psychiatrist’s Assessment

• Dr. Santana expressed confidence in de Grood’s progress.
• He emphasized that de Grood’s feelings of guilt and shame are indicators of his potential for recovery.
• According to Santana, those emotions often lead individuals to seek positive change.

De Grood’s desire for greater freedoms is also driven by his wish to visit his sister in British Columbia. However, a bid for conditional discharge was rejected by Alberta’s Court of Appeal in September. The court ruled against relaxing the supervision rules surrounding de Grood in group homes.

Background of the Incident

The violent act occurred in the early hours of April 15, 2014, during a seemingly peaceful gathering. At the age of 22, de Grood unexpectedly attacked five party attendees: Zackariah Rathwell, Jordan Segura, Kaiti Perras, Josh Hunter, and Lawrence Hong. He grabbed a kitchen knife and stabbed them without provocation.

During the trial, it was revealed that de Grood was experiencing a severe psychotic episode. He did not comprehend the moral implications of his actions, as he believed he was confronting mythological creatures.

Legal Findings

The court noted that psychiatric evaluations unanimously supported the idea that de Grood had lost touch with reality during the incident. The decision emphasized his lack of appreciation for the moral wrongness of his behavior at that time, facilitating the court’s ruling of not criminally responsible.

As the process unfolds, de Grood’s team continues to advocate for changes that would allow for a more integrated life while considering the complexities of his mental health history and the consequences of his actions.