The Canada College Party Massacre: The Calgary Stabbings
Quick Read
Summary
Takeaways
- ❖Five University of Calgary students were fatally stabbed at a house party on April 15, 2014, in what police called Calgary's worst mass murder.
- ❖The perpetrator, Matthew Degrood, was a 22-year-old psychology graduate and law school hopeful, whose father was a high-ranking police officer.
- ❖Degrood believed he was the son of God, Anubis, and Darth Vader, tasked with fighting an apocalyptic war against the Illuminati, vampires, and werewolves.
- ❖He was found 'not criminally responsible' for the murders due to a psychotic episode caused by schizophrenia.
- ❖Victims' families attend annual review board hearings, expressing profound pain and concern over Degrood's increasing privileges, including unsupervised day visits and potential moves to less restrictive settings.
- ❖Matthew's parents and legal team continually advocate for his full reintegration, while doctors and legal teams cite his history of 'decompensation' (worsening symptoms) as a reason for continued caution.
Insights
1The Calgary Stabbings: A Shocking Mass Murder
On April 15, 2014, five young adults—Joshua Hunter (23), Zachariah Rothwell (21), Jordan Sigura (22), Lawrence Hong (27), and Caitlyn Perez (23)—were stabbed to death at a house party in Calgary. The event, celebrating the end of winter semester classes at the University of Calgary, was described by police as the worst mass murder in the city's history.
Police reports and initial news coverage cited at , , , , , , , , .
2Perpetrator's Background and Delusional State
Matthew Degrood, a 22-year-old psychology graduate with a minor in law and society, was the sole suspect. He was accepted into law school and came from a respected family, his father being a high-ranking police officer. During his arrest and subsequent psychiatric evaluations, Degrood exhibited severe delusions, believing he was the son of God, the ancient Egyptian god Anubis, and Darth Vader, fighting a war against the Illuminati, vampires, and werewolves. He carried garlic to repel 'zombies' and claimed his victims were 'werewolves' he needed to kill quickly and dismember.
Matthew's identity and background (, , , ), his statements about garlic and zombies (, ), alien claims (), werewolf beliefs (), and detailed psychiatric report findings regarding his delusions (, , , ).
3The 'Five' Text Message and Premeditation Debate
Hours before the murders, Matthew texted a co-worker, 'Trust that I never hurt anyone. All will be known. Five.' This message, sent just before he killed five people, became a central point in the debate over whether the murders were premeditated, despite his later 'not criminally responsible' verdict.
The co-worker's testimony and Matthew's text message are discussed at .
4Not Criminally Responsible Verdict and Public Outcry
In May 2016, Matthew Degrood was found not criminally responsible (NCR) for the murders due to schizophrenia causing a psychotic episode. This verdict, based on expert psychiatric testimony, meant he was sent to a psychiatric facility for treatment rather than prison. The decision sparked significant public backlash and heartbreak among the victims' families, who felt it did not deliver justice.
The verdict and its basis in schizophrenia (, ), expert testimony (), and family reactions (, ).
5Ongoing Struggle for Victims' Families and Degrood's Privileges
Victims' families are mandated to attend annual review board hearings, where they receive updates on Matthew's treatment and progress. They have consistently opposed his increasing privileges, such as unsupervised day visits and moves to group homes, arguing that his past 'decompensation' (worsening mental illness symptoms) in 2019 and 2021 indicates he remains a risk and should not be granted further freedoms. His parents continue to advocate for his full reintegration, including moving back home, but these requests have been denied.
Annual reviews and family impact (, ), Matthew's apology (), privileges granted and revoked (, , ), family's opposition and comparison to other cases (), and professional opinions on his unsuitability due to decompensation (, ).
Lessons
- Recognize the critical importance of early intervention and support for individuals experiencing mental health crises, as untreated severe mental illness can have devastating consequences.
- Advocate for clear and transparent legal frameworks regarding 'not criminally responsible' verdicts, ensuring that victim families' perspectives are genuinely considered alongside rehabilitation efforts.
- Understand the complexities of mental illness in the justice system, acknowledging that a legal finding of 'not criminally responsible' does not diminish the horrific impact on victims and their loved ones.
Quotes
"Canadian police call it the worst mass murder in Calgary's history."
"It's a very interesting case because it's actually widely, well, I don't want to say widely because it's actually being underreported in my opinion or has been underreported, but it has been compared to the Idaho 4 massacre, but the Canadian version. And it has to do with vampires, werewolves, a house party gone wrong. I mean, terribly wrong, and truly a massacre that happened."
"The scene was horrific. It's extremely difficult to go into a scene like that with young people who have been killed, who've been murdered."
"I am Douglas Degrood and I am an inspector with the Calgary Police Service, but I'm here today not as a police officer, but as a parent and a husband. I speak for my wife, Susan Degrood, as we are one voice. We are shocked and devastated and we are trying to make sense of what happened. We are deeply saddened for what the families and friends of the victims are going through."
"I tried to kill them as quickly, as quickly, and as humanly as I could, but they were struggling."
"Trust that I never hurt anyone. All will be known. Five. The number five."
"These five young bright people will only ever smile in our memories. We can only hug them in our dreams. And every moment, good or bad, will be spent wishing they could share it with us. There will be no peace for us. Our wounds will never fully heal. Because every year, our families will have to wonder what will be the fate of the man who destroyed so many lives. These families all have a life sentence."
"I have done a terrible wrong. What happened is a horrendous tragedy, and I desperately wish it never happened. I am truly sorry for what I've done. I take full responsibility for my illness."
Q&A
Recent Questions
Related Episodes
The YouTuber Who Had Her Husband Murdered
"A young YouTuber with dreams of online fame orchestrated the brutal murder of her husband, Ernie Abara, after staging a home invasion, leading to a complex investigation that exposed her calculated deception."
Mystery Man Buys D4vd’s Tesla as Other Teen Girls Surface in Case | Celeste Rivas Hernandez Update
"A 14-year-old girl's dismembered body was found in a rising singer's Tesla, but the investigation is plagued by alleged police mishandling, sealed evidence, and a lack of charges, raising questions about justice and transparency."
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE'S MOM MISSING: DAY 66
"On day 66 of Nancy Guthrie's disappearance, investigators grapple with two distinct sets of Bitcoin ransom notes, digital tracing challenges, and potential physical evidence like shoe coverings, as new, dubious claims emerge from a 'hyena' seeking payment for information."
Military Wife Has Lover Kill Husband in Brutal Conspiracy
"A decorated Army Sergeant's murder on New Year's Eve unravels into a shocking conspiracy involving his wife and her lover, meticulously planned for life insurance money and a new life."