A man who was found not criminally responsible for the stabbing deaths of five young people at a Calgary house party over a decade ago has been granted increased freedoms by a provincial review board.
Background of the Tragic Case
Matthew de Grood was found not criminally responsible (NCR) for the killings that occurred in the early hours of April 15, 2014. The victims, all in their twenties, were attending a party in the Brentwood neighbourhood near the University of Calgary when the attack happened. The tragedy sent shockwaves through the city and the entire country.
De Grood, who was 22 at the time, was diagnosed with schizophrenia. His NCR verdict, delivered in 2016, meant the court accepted that he was in a state of psychotic disorder and could not appreciate the nature of his actions or know they were wrong. Since that verdict, his case has been reviewed annually by the Alberta Review Board to assess his mental state and determine the appropriate level of supervision.
Latest Decision by the Review Board
The latest review, held in late 2025, resulted in a decision to grant de Grood more freedoms. While the specific details of the new privileges are typically kept confidential to protect patient privacy and public safety, such incremental increases can include more unsupervised community access, longer periods of leave from a psychiatric facility, or expanded personal liberties within a supervised setting.
These decisions are based on extensive assessments by forensic psychiatrists and mental health professionals who report to the board on the patient's current mental condition, treatment compliance, and risk to the public. The board's paramount mandate is to balance the need to protect society with the goal of rehabilitating individuals found NCR.
Ongoing Impact and Legal Process
The case remains one of the deadliest incidents of violence in Calgary's recent history. The annual review process for individuals found NCR is a standard part of Canada's justice system for such cases. It is designed to be a dynamic process that responds to changes in an individual's mental health status over time.
For the families of the victims, these annual hearings are a painful reminder of their loss. The progression of an NCR accused through different levels of freedom is often met with profound anxiety and grief, even as the legal system focuses on the clinical recovery of the offender.
The journey for Matthew de Grood continues under the oversight of the Alberta Review Board, with his next annual review scheduled for 2026. His case underscores the complex intersection of mental health, justice, and public safety in the Canadian legal framework.
