On this episode of the Global News podcast Crime Beat, crime reporter Nancy Hixt brings us to Part 3 of her special series, the Brentwood five massacre.

This episode takes an in-depth look at what it means to be found not criminally responsible (NCR) in Canada.

Carol de Delley understands the anguish of what NCR can mean for the family of a victim, as few others can. She lost her son, Timothy McLean, in one of the most high profile cases in Canadian history where the killer was found NCR.

In 2008, McLean was brutally attacked by a stranger—a man who sat next to him as they rode a Greyhound bus.

McLean was stabbed more than 100 times. He was mutilated and cannibalized.

Vince Li was charged with second-degree murder

Less than a year later, he was found not criminally responsible for his actions.

Just eight years after that, Vince Li (who changed his name to Will Baker) was granted an absolute discharge.

That ruling gave him complete freedom. He never has to receive treatment or take medication again—if he chooses not to.

The families of the Brentwood five are concerned the same thing that happened to McLean’s killer will happen to the man who killed their five children in the Spring of 2014.

Matthew de Grood was originally charged with five counts of first-degree murder but was later deemed to be NCR for the stabbing deaths of Lawrence Hong, Kaiti Perras, Jordan Segura, Josh Hunter and Zackariah Rathwell.

The judge ruled de Grood was suffering from a mental disorder that rendered him incapable of knowing that his actions were wrong when committed the worst mass killing in Calgary’s history.

The finding meant de Grood would not go to prison and he would not have a criminal record.

He was no longer a part of the Canadian criminal justice system.

Instead, he was moved to the healthcare system.

De Grood’s case is assessed on a yearly basis by the Alberta Review Board (ARB) and each year the board has three options: to continue his treatment in a secure facility, to grant him a conditional discharge or to grant him an absolute discharge.

In the conclusion of “the Brentwood five massacre” you’ll hear from the families of these five victims, and from Timothy McLean’s mother. They are working together to lobby for a change in Canadian legislation so killers deemed to be NCR would be mandated to continue their treatment and monitoring indefinitely.

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Lawrence Hong, Kaiti Perras, Jordan Segura, Josh Hunter and Zackariah Rathwell were a group of talented young people with promising futures.

On this episode of the Global News podcast Crime Beat, crime reporter Nancy Hixt brings us to Part 2 of her special series, the Brentwood five massacre.

What started out as a party to mark the end of classes at the University of Calgary ended in a horrific tragedy.

It happened quickly and without warning.

In less than a minute the five victims were stabbed in the biggest mass killing in Calgary’s history.

Police arrived on the scene less than five minutes after the first call to 911.

To add to the complexity of the case, investigators quickly learned the suspect was the son of one of their own.

The accused was the 22-year-old son of a veteran, high ranking officer with the Calgary Police Service and would soon be charged with five counts of first-degree murder.

But what led to such a horrific and violent attack? 

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Twitter: @nancyhixt

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NancyHixtCrimeBeat/

Email: [email protected]

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On April 14, 2014, a group of friends had a small get-together at their home near the University of Calgary campus in the northwest neighbourhood of Brentwood.

Five young people shared a small, grey-and-blue split-level house on a quiet block on Butler Crescent.

The house was a well-known rental for university students that many affectionately called the “Butler Mansion.”

It was a relatively small gathering, with many of those invited having gone to junior high or high school together. The rest knew each other from university. 

It was an amazing group of young people that included an accomplished dancer, an aspiring urban planner, two talented musicians, and a young man who was well on his way to becoming a humanitarian.

For the most part, the mood of the party was laid back and relaxed.

No one could have predicted the terrifying turn the night would take and how quickly it would all unravel.

It was a day that left a scar on the soul of the city -- the biggest mass killing in Calgary’s history.

On this episode of the Global News podcast Crime Beat, crime reporter Nancy Hixt looks the Brentwood five massacre.

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On this episode Global News crime reporter Nancy Hixt is joined by an investigator who’s worked on many of the high profile cases featured on Crime Beat.

In this special conversation with retired homicide Det. Tom Barrow, the veteran officer opens up in a raw, intimate way, and provides new insight into the demons that continue to haunt him.

Listen to this episode now for exclusive behind the scenes details on several cases we’ve covered on the show and ones we’ll be profiling in the coming months.

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Nancy Hixt shares a story that highlights how fragile life can be.

On a crisp summer evening in August 2014, a young woman was enjoying a night out with some friends in downtown Calgary.

Natasha Farah, 26, was originally from Toronto, but came to Calgary a year earlier for work and to further her education.

That night, Farah was feeling especially nostalgic and had a long heart-to-heart with her best friend and also called her mother back home in Toronto.

Neither of them realized how precious those talks would later become.

That night, the group of friends stayed right until closing time, and after that, they kept visiting out front of the club, not wanting the night to end.

That’s when gunfire erupted.

A series of shots were fired into the air — and then into the crowd.

One of those bullets hit and killed Farah – an innocent bystander.

Witnesses watched as the gunman took off in a getaway car.

Follow along to learn how detectives and forensic crime scene investigators worked together to track the killer.

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In 2002, Lisa was 19 and working several jobs to put herself through university. One of which was at a Calgary tanning salon. Lisa is not her real name. Her identity is protected by a court-imposed publication ban.

She is smart and a hard worker, and it appeared she made a good impression on the owners of the salon.

After just a couple of months, she was offered an incredible opportunity -- the chance to manage her own store.

She was asked to meet with the owner’s nephew one evening after work to go over details of the job. 

That meeting seemed to go smoothly until right before she was about to leave. 

Learn the shocking details of the night that left her paralyzed with fear – and hear why Lisa has been forced to relive the trauma over and over again.

On this episode of the Global News podcast Crime Beat, crime reporter Nancy Hixt shares the story of a young woman who was presented with a golden opportunity -- instead, it would tarnish her whole life.

Contact:

Twitter: @nancyhixt

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NancyHixtCrimeBeat/

Email: [email protected]

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At 29 years old, Lisa Mitchell had a lot on her plate. Lisa and her common-law husband, Allan Shyback, had two children.

In the fall of 2012, she juggled two jobs to try to make ends meet and provide for her family. 

Then one day-- she disappeared-- leaving her common-law husband and two children behind. 

The only clues were a few short emails and a cryptic voicemail to her mother.

For more than two years, her mother held out hope Lisa would return.

On this episode of the Global News podcast Crime Beat, crime reporter Nancy Hixt shares the shocking twist this case took. Follow along as investigators work to uncover the mystery behind Lisa's disappearance.

Contact:

Twitter: @nancyhixt

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NancyHixtCrimeBeat/

Email: [email protected]

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On this special year-end episode of Crime Beat, Global News crime reporter Nancy Hixt is joined by L.A. Times journalist and Pulitzer Prize finalist Christopher Goffard, who is the reporter and host of two podcasts, Dirty John and Detective Trapp.

Nancy and Christopher pull back the curtain on crime reporting in a way that only two people who have covered this beat can.

They talk crime and justice, and provide a look at how two journalists work to uncover the truth.

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18-year-old, Lukas Strasser-Hird had aspirations of becoming a trauma surgeon.

Instead, on November 23, 2013, he laid on an operating table, as a trauma surgeon worked to try and save his life.

He was out at a nightclub, celebrating his return from a year studying abroad, when he became the victim of a savage attack.

It took mere minutes for a group of guys to swarm him.

He was kicked, stabbed and beaten beyond recognition.

It was so hard to comprehend how this happened to Lukas-- and over what?

All he did was defend a stranger.

Police had their work cut out for them-- with so many involved in the attack... it was a daunting task.

To make matters worse...the savage swarming was not captured on surveillance video…

Would there ever be justice for Lukas?

On this episode of the Global News podcast Crime Beat, crime reporter Nancy Hixt concludes her two-part series, and follows along as his family was dealt a series of debilitating blows in their search for justice in his case.

Follow the emotional rollercoaster Lukas’ loved ones have been on for more than six years.

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At 18, Lukas Strasser-Hird’s future was bright. After a year studying abroad, he had aspirations to become a doctor.

The day he arrived back in Calgary, he went out with friends to celebrate his homecoming.

It was a fun night, until last-call.

No one could have predicted how dangerous the situation was about to become.

It’s a story that will leave you questioning what the person next to you at a bar is capable of.

On this episode of the Global News podcast Crime Beat, crime reporter Nancy Hixt begins a two-part series on a case that devastated a Calgary family.

Contact:

Twitter: @nancyhixt

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NancyHixtCrimeBeat/

Email: [email protected]

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