An Ontario woman previously found not criminally responsible for the brutal killing of her mother has demonstrated significant recent lapses in judgement, including purchasing a vehicle without consulting her treatment team, according to a psychiatrist's testimony.
The Fatal Incident
Michelle Campbell was found not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder on May 9, 2017, for the second-degree murder of her mother. The tragic event occurred on March 22, 2016, in the parking lot of a Leon's Furniture store in Toronto's Pelmo Park neighbourhood.
According to the Ontario Review Board decision, closed-circuit television captured the disturbing sequence of events. Eleanor Campbell, 65, had exited the car and was walking away with the assistance of her walker when Michelle Campbell drove toward her mother at high speed.
The impact threw the elderly woman into the air, onto the hood of the car, and then onto the ground. The video evidence showed Michelle Campbell accelerating and reversing over her mother four times before exiting the vehicle, appearing to check on her mother, and then driving away from the scene. Eleanor Campbell was declared dead at the location just after 2 p.m.
Recent Concerning Behavior
During a recent hearing at Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences in Whitby, Campbell's psychiatrist revealed several concerning developments in her behavior. The 52-year-old, who has been diagnosed with schizophrenia, has made what the doctor described as "lapses of judgement."
One significant concern involved Campbell purchasing a car for herself without discussing the decision with her treatment team. Her psychiatrist emphasized the particular significance of this action, noting that a car was "the murder weapon, so to speak" in her mother's death.
While Campbell was permitted to rent vehicles under her disposition conditions, which require her to have an approved itinerary for all driving, the outright purchase of a vehicle without consultation alarmed her treatment team. The team typically reviews her proposed driving destinations by email each week and approves acceptable itineraries.
Additional Violations and Limited Insight
The psychiatrist cited other problematic behavior, including Campbell contacting her ex-husband and his son in March, contrary to a court order. This violation has resulted in new criminal charges against her.
Perhaps most concerning to the board was Campbell's continued limited insight into her responsibility for her mother's death. While she acknowledges she was unwell at the time of the incident, she reportedly continues to believe that her mother was partially at fault for what occurred.
The Ontario Review Board's most recent decision regarding Campbell's case was dated November 14, 2025, as they continue to monitor her condition and treatment progress within the mental health system.
