CALGARY — A man found not guilty of criminal charges for killing five people at a house party in Calgary is getting more freedoms, but not a complete exoneration.
The Alberta Criminal Code Review Board has granted Matthew de Groude a pass for up to two weeks to visit his family's home in Calgary.
He is also allowed to travel to British Columbia and Ontario when accompanied by a responsible adult.
De Grood's trial heard he was suffering from schizophrenia at the time of the murders in 2014. He was found not guilty and placed in a psychiatric hospital.
His annual hearing before the board last month looked at his progress and whether additional freedoms would be warranted.
His psychiatrist, Dr. Sergio Santana, said de Grood is at a low level to reoffend and is open to the rules being relaxed so he can visit his sister in British Columbia.
Santana also said de Grood's schizophrenia is in full remission, but he continues to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, guilt, shame and the impact his actions had on his family and the families of his victims.
“The treatment team also looks forward to working further with Mr de Grood to come to terms with the consequences of his actions,” the board said in a report released on Friday.
“As he continues to reintegrate into a hostile community, the treatment team anticipates increasingly challenging situations. The board is satisfied that there is some confidence that Mr de Grood remains a serious threat to the safety of the community and that the board cannot dismiss him entirely.”
De Grode was 22 when he grabbed a kitchen knife at a house party and stabbed Zachary Rathwell, Jordan Segura, Katie Perras, Josh Hunter and Lawrence Hong to death without provocation.
The court heard de Grood believed he attacked Medusa and the werewolves for the sake of the son of God.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 19, 2025.
