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Goodridge to remain in custody at Alberta Hospital

Daniel Goodridge will remain in custody. He was found not criminally responsible for the killing of two people at a work camp in Fox Creek, but the Alberta Review Board believes he is a significant threat to the safety of the public.

A hearing was held in Edmonton on December 11th, a little over a month after the end of his trial for first degree murder, interfering with human remains, and assault with a weapon. Goodridge was ordered to be detained at either the Alberta Hospital Edmonton or Southern Alberta Forensic Psychiatry Centre.

Once there, he will have to be on good behaviour and in good mental health, not use alcohol, cannabis, or any non-prescribed drugs, and not have or use a weapon. From time to time, at the discretion of his treatment team, he may be allowed to spend time on the grounds and have passes to go to the City of Edmonton if supervised by staff or a responsible adult.

In its decision released January 3rd, the Alberta Review Board notes that Goodridge appears to have been diagnosed with schizophrenia or possible schizoaffective disorder, which the National Alliance on Mental Illness says has symptoms of schizophrenia such as hallucinations or delusions as well as mood disorder symptoms like mania and depression. He has also had a history of cannabis use disorder but is in full sustained remission.

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Since he arrived at Alberta Hospital on November 9, 2018, the review board reports his mental state has appeared to be stable and he has shown no objective signs of psychosis. He reportedly appreciates his need for treatment with knowledge of his illness and past symptoms. However, it’s noted that he seems to be “somewhat emotionally detached from the gravity” of his offences.

Goodridge’s treatment team doesn’t think that he would be violent without supervision, but since he doesn’t have any supports like a psychiatrist, a job, or an appropriate place to stay, it’s thought being discharged into the public would increase his stress levels.

“It might be expected that in unstable circumstances he would lose insight, stop treatment and in a decompensated mental state, he would eventually become violent. His past history has shown that he is capable of serious physical harm.”

Goodridge went on a violent rampage at the Berland Open Lodge in the early morning hours of June 30, 2015. He admits to stabbing and killing 37-year-old David Derksen and 50-year-old Hally Dubois, as well as assaulting two other employees and a police officer with a knife. He also cut off pieces of Derksen’s body and set his corpse on fire.

Goodridge has had a history of mental illness since he was 14 years old and said he had been hearing negative voices in his head in the days leading up to the murders. The Alberta Review Board agreed with the assessment of his treatment team and found that if released, his risk of violence would be “at a moderate level with possible serious harm.”

The board is an independent committee tasked with overseeing people who have been handed a not criminally responsible or unfit to stand trial verdict because of a mental disorder. It’s made up of psychiatrists, lawyers, and community representatives.

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