Re: Raymond Beacham
ORB File No: 7862
Hearing held on: Monday, September 15, 2025
Place of hearing: Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre
Pursuant to: Section 672.82(1) of the Criminal Code
Before:
Alternate Chairperson: Ms. C. Fromstein
Members: Dr. L. Ramshaw Dr. C. Rose Mr. J. Goldenberg Mr. A. Bouvier
Parties Appearing:
Accused: Raymond Beacham Counsel: Mr. U. Agostino
The Person in charge of Hospital: Representative: Ms. M. Davidson
Attorney General of Ontario: Counsel: Mr. T. Jukes
REASONS FOR DISPOSITION
(Dated October 3. 2025)
Introduction
On March 18, 2021, Mr. Raymond Beacham was found not criminally responsible (“NCR”) on the charge of utter threats to cause death, contrary to the Criminal Code. He is currently subject to a Disposition dated September 3, 2024, detaining him at the Secure Forensic Unit of the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (the “hospital”) with privileges up to and extending to living in the community of Thunder Bay in approved accommodation. His Disposition also provides amongst other conditions that he refrain from contact or communication direct or indirect with Mary Beacham save and except with written revocable consent, that he abstain absolutely from the use of substances and submit urine for analysis.
On September 15, 2025, a panel of the Board convened in person at the hospital to review that Disposition. Mr. Beacham was present and represented by counsel Mr. Agostino. Ms. Davidson represented the hospital and Mr. Jukes appeared as counsel on behalf of the Attorney General. Also present observing the hearing was the victim of the index offence, Ms. Beacham.
Index Offence:
- The details of the index offence are as follows:
“The index offence of utter threat to cause death occurred in October 2019, but some background context is necessary to understand the nature of the offence:
In June 2018, Mr. Beacham stabbed his mother multiple times. He was convicted of aggravated assault. Mr. Beacham began his sentence at Central North Correctional Centre, but in April 2019 was moved to St. Lawrence Valley Correctional & Treatment Centre.
In March 2019, Mr. Beacham’s mother consented to him communicating with her by mail and he began to write her letters; and
Mr. Beacham was scheduled to be released from custody on November 22, 2019.
In a letter dated October 28, 2019, Mr. Beacham wrote to his mother, “I’m living a new life not believing anything you say anymore and will go to any means to silence my mind.” Upon becoming aware of the contents of this letter, Mr. Beacham’s treating psychiatrist felt compelled to disclose that Mr. Beacham had told him that he experienced auditory hallucinations in his mother’s voice and that this voice had led him to stab his mother in 2018. As a result of this disclosure, Mr. Beacham was arrested and charged with utter threat on November 22, 2021 – the same day he had been scheduled to be released. He has remained at St. Lawrence since.”
Evidence at the Hearing
- The evidence at the hearing was comprised of the following materials, made exhibits:
(i) Hospital report June 4, 2025
(ii) Victim impact statement of Mary Beacham 2025
(iii) Section 13 letter from the hospital to St. Joseph’s Hospital April 30, 2025
(iv) All letters regarding the early hearing request May 2025
(v) Letter to St. Joseph’s Hospital with the hospital report June 5, 2025
(vi) June 24, 2025, letter from St. Joseph’s Hospital opposing the section 13 transfer
Initial Positions
At the outset of the hearing, the parties provided their initial positions. Ms. Davidson, on behalf of the hospital, updated the panel to indicate that Mr. Beacham was no longer requesting a transfer to St. Joseph’s or any other hospital. The hospital takes the position that Mr. Beacham remains a significant threat to the safety of the public and recommends no change to the current Disposition.
Mr. Jukes, on behalf of the Attorney General, supported the hospital position.
Mr. Agostino, on behalf of Mr. Beacham, deferred his position until hearing the evidence. He did confirm that his client was not seeking transfer from the hospital.
Background
The details of Mr. Beacham’s background, history, and past psychiatric treatment are set out in detail in the hospital report, an exhibit at this hearing, so will not be repeated. To give context to the hearing, the following information is relevant. Mr. Beacham is presently 34 years of age. His current diagnoses include schizophrenia, attention deficit disorder, antisocial borderline personality traits and substance use disorder.
Mr. Beacham and his twin brother were reportedly moved from the birth family home due to his birth parents’ alcoholism and were placed in foster care with the Beacham family. He was raised from the age of two and a half by that family alongside his twin brother, his stepbrother and stepsister. The hospital report queried whether he may have been exposed to alcohol in fetus and the Hospital Report indicates that he likely suffers from fetal alcohol syndrome. He left school in grade 11 and moved out of his home at age 16. At age 18, he returned to Kenora in a paranoid state. His twin also suffers from psychosis and substance abuse. His birth mother is noted to have been suffering from mental illness.
Mr. Beacham’s psychiatric admissions began when he was in his 20’s. Mr. Beacham has a substantial substance abuse history that began in his teens involving alcohol and drugs. He is reported to have twice overdosed on crystal methamphetamines.
He has an extensive criminal record that includes violence, including convictions for assaults, threats, weapons, and break and enter. Most significantly, in 2018, Mr. Beacham committed a serious aggravated assault on his adoptive mother. He received a sentence of (171) days of pretrial custody plus 15 months incarceration and probation for three years. The hospital report notes that Mr. Beacham had a significant history of violence associated with his mental illness. His actuarial risk high is rated to be high for continued violence and sexual offending.
Mr. Beacham was admitted to the Thunder Bay hospital in November 2021. He was reported to have initially improved on Clopixol medication, reducing his auditory hallucinations. It has been, in the past, reported that he continues to maintain that he had acted in self defence in the aggravated assault. Mr. Beacham was reported to have shown good improvement in 2022 and into 2023 which resulted in his discharge in January 2023 to 24-7 supervised housing at Andras Court. Unfortunately, within weeks there were problems including sexually inappropriate behaviours and drug use. He tested positive for cocaine but denied using. He was readmitted to the hospital and discharged back to Andras Court housing. He then went AWOL twice from the home. Mr. Beacham tested positive for alcohol and cocaine use when he returned to the Andras Court residence in April 2023.
That year also had a lengthy AWOL from the hospital. In May 2023 he absconded from the hospital while using independently supervised hospital grounds privileges and remained AWOL until June 2nd when he was arrested by police. His mental state showed him to be clearly more psychotic upon return. He has remained an inpatient in hospital since that time. In the preceding year, it is reported that he engaged in threats to staff, cheeked medication, and required locked seclusion.
Over the past treatment year, Mr. Beacham has remained an inpatient on the Secure Forensic Unit. The hospital report of June 4, 2025, indicated that he had remained chronically psychotic with limited insight. It described that he frequently had bizarre delusions with grandiose, paranoid, sexual and violent contact. He frequently voiced that he had the authority to harm or kill individuals whom he believed to be pedophiles.
In October 2024, Mr. Beacham refused his Invega Sustenna injection, and the medication was eventually discontinued. He agreed to treatment with oral medication, but it appears that the medication change had a negative effect on his mental status. On February 16, 2025, Mr. Beacham failed to return to the unit from an indirectly supervised community pass and remained unlawfully at large for approximately 24 hours. When he returned to the unit, he had cuts and bruises on his face and a black eye. He was tremendously agitated, extremely disorganized, and delusional in his thinking. His urine tested positive for cocaine.
Mr. Beacham’s behaviour remained irritable, oppositional, and defiant. In March 2025, he violently assaulted a male co-patient by punching the male in the face several times, believing that the co-patient had sexually assaulted a nursing student, and it was his duty to take matters into his own hands. He gradually improved, though his psychotic symptoms remained. The Board was advised that the criminal charge laid in March 2025 was resolved by a peace bond for 12 months.
It was determined in April 2025 that Mr. Beacham was no longer capable of consenting to treatments. His incapacity was upheld by the Consent and Capacity Board (CCB).
Mr. Beacham requested a transfer to the forensic program at St. Joseph’s Care, Hamilton, based on his limited progress at Thunder Bay and his view that there was a treatment impasse. Despite the hospital’s view at that time that there was not in fact an impasse, they did note that there had been a mutual lack of trust which had become more prominent since the events of February 2025 and that Mr. Beacham might, despite having no contacts with Hamilton, benefit from an opportunity to move to a larger hospital in a larger community. A section 13 request was sent to St. Joseph’s hospital, which replied that they were not willing to accept Mr. Beacham’s transfer. At the outset of the hearing, this panel was advised that Mr. Beacham is no longer seeking a transfer to that or any other hospital.
Dr. Leinonen provided testimony. He became Mr. Beacham’s most responsible treating psychiatrist in May 2025 but had become involved with Mr. Beacham before that date. He noted significant updates to Mr. Beacham’s progress in recent months. When he first took over care, Mr. Beacham was treatment incapable and was adamant that he was not psychotic and did not need medication. He would become angry and threatening when it was discussed. When the doctor proposed beginning injectable medications, Mr. Beacham agreed to take oral medication, and this was added. As his oral medications were increased, his mental state began to improve. With this, so did his rapport with the treatment team.
By the end of July 2025, Mr. Beacham was requesting greater passes and community access. Dr. Leinonen told him that this would likely become available to him if he were on long-acting medication. Mr. Beacham agreed, and at the end of July he was started on a long-acting antipsychotic. His oral medication was decreased, and his symptoms worsened. In time, with improvements in his mental state on the injectable medication, he was able to be granted indirectly supervised hospital grounds privileges several times a day, which he managed, and his engagement in programming improved.
Dr. Leinonen testified that it is hoped that the hospital can continue the progress of community reintegration gradually and cautiously over the upcoming year. The current disposition allows for same, and so no change is being requested. Dr. Leinonen testified that, as the Invega medication may take time to result in increased improvements, the team will observe Mr. Beacham’s ability to manage his continued access to the community and increase these privileges with oversight to ensure that he does not engage in any substance use or aggression in doing so.
Mr. Beacham has no family or support in Thunder Bay.
Dr. Leinonen reviewed the victim impact statement of Mary Beacham, which he had not seen prior to the hearing. He noted that he has not had contact with Ms. Beacham nor has anyone on the treatment team. to his knowledge, in the past few months.
Dr. Leinonen testified that when Mr. Beacham’s AWOL in February 2025 took place before the recent medication change. In the winter of 2024-2025, his mental state was much worse than it is now. He was at that time very suspicious of the team, to the point of hostility. Things improved when his mental state improved. When his psychotic disorder became more manageable, he became less suspicious, less irritable and agitated and more pleasant.
Mr. Beacham is presently more compliant and engaged with the treatment team. He uses his off-unit privileges to smoke cigarettes and returns on time. He socializes a bit more with both co-patients and staff, engages a bit in occupational and recreational therapies, and uses the exercise room to work out. He has just recently started attending psychology groups.
Dr. Leinonen was asked about the incident in March 2025 when Mr. Beacham assaulted the co-patient. At the time of that event, Mr. Beacham had been fixated on that patient, which Mr. Beacham felt justified the violence. That settled down and eventually stopped with the improvement in his mental state. Mr. Beacham has engaged in no physical violence since that time. He still at times will express that he is responsible for punishing pedophiles, but he has made no direct threats. Dr. Leinonen is of the view that as Mr. Beacham has improved and been granted more access to the community, his attitude has also improved. He is in quite a different place than even 4 to 5 months ago. Dr. Leinonen expressed some hope for continued progress.
Mr. Beacham’s granted privileges include indirectly supervised hospital and grounds, one hour, nine times a day. There have been no issues, and these have all gone well. He also engages in supervised community access for walks, drives, and playing mini putt. These group outings have gone well. Dr. Leinonen stated that Mr. Beacham may become eligible to begin indirectly supervised community passes of 3 to 4 hours within the next month.
Dr. Leinonen was asked at what point Mr. Beacham might become ready for community living. It had been thought a few years ago, that he might have the future potential to be able to reside in the community independently. Dr. Leinonen said it is hard to predict when Mr. Beacham may progress to being ready for community living. There has been no confirmed substance use since the February AWOL incident.
Mr. Beacham has partial recognition of his illness, and his medication needs but he tends to minimize his symptoms and says that he has no active symptoms so that his medications should be decreased. Dr. Leinonen expressed that Mr. Beacham might see an increase in medication as punishment and Dr. Leinonen tries to reassure him that he is just trying to optimize treatment of his mental health. The rapport with the team has improved considerably, compared to six months ago.
Dr. Leinonen was asked whether autism was being considered as part of the diagnostic picture as it was referred to in prior reporting years. Dr. Leinonen indicated that, at this time, the team has been focused on treating Mr. Beacham’s psychosis and that they have not had the time to further assess diagnostic issues. His primary goal at this point is to stabilize Mr. Beacham’s psychosis and then look at the diagnostic questions.
Dr. Leinonen was asked what engagement there is with respect to Mr. Beacham’s substance use treatment. It was noted that he used substances in 2023 when discharged to the community and the use continued. Dr. Leinonen testified that Mr. Beacham indicates that he has no cravings or intention to return to substance use. There is some degree of substance use counselling in his present counselling, but it has not been a major focus in the past year. The focus has been, as indicated, on getting his psychosis under control. As he is granted more indirectly supervised passes and once his psychosis is better managed, Dr. Leinonen agreed that it will be good to focus on these other issues.
Dr. Leinonen articulated that the team’s view that Mr. Beacham represents a significant threat is based on his history of significant aggression and violence, his major mental illness of schizophrenia and substance abuse history. While there have been improvements in the past months, it is still necessary that he be maintained on a Detention Order. Mr. Beacham requires significant management with medication optimization and the detention order is necessary in consideration of public risk.
Dr. Leinonen has been discussing with Mr. Beacham decreasing the injection intervals of medication from four to three weeks. Mr. Beacham wants to reduce the medications that he is on, and ideally, the team will be in a position to reduce the oral medications as part of that process and then reassess. Dr. Leinonen was optimistic that there will be further improvements with treatment optimization, although there is some indication that Mr. Beacham may have a somewhat treatment resistant psychotic disorder. It will take months to observe the full effects of the medication changes. Addressing substance use issues would have to be engaged as Mr. Beacham progresses to more community access.
Dr. Leinonen was unaware whether Mr. Beacham has had any contact recently with his birth family, noting he might be in contact with them by phone.
That completed the hospital evidence.
Mr. Jukes, on behalf of the Crown, noted that the victim impact statement was filed as an exhibit. He did note that Ms. Beacham had advised him that she had not been notified about the February 2025 AWOL. The victim impact statement clearly makes out her fears if Mr. Beacham is in the community unsupervised.
Submissions
Ms. Davidson, on behalf of the hospital, maintained her initial position to maintain the present Detention Order. She highlighted that Mr. Beacham has shown significant progress which was likely directly related to his agreeing to take long-term injectable antipsychotics. She hopes that with continued progress, the hospital will be in a position to recommend further privileges next year.
Mr. Jukes maintained his initial position supporting that of the hospital. He submitted that Mr. Beacham’s significant threat is made out on the basis of his major mental illness, his history of violence including the aggravated assault on Mary Beacham, and the factors that led to the finding of NCR. Mr. Beacham has a potential for violence and substance abuse and has insufficient insight on these issues. He has shown a very positive trajectory in the past four to five months. This is promising. Mr. Jukes submitted that caution must be exercised in light of his history, to go step by step and see the response to the increase in medication and his use of passes. He remains a significant threat, and the least onerous and least restrictive disposition is the detention order with the current conditions.
Mr. Agostino, on behalf of Mr. Beacham, submitted that notwithstanding the difficult start to the year, recently his client has been on a positive trajectory, showing appropriate behaviour on the hospital ward and in the use of community passes. His insight into his illness has improved since the 2019 index offence. Mr. Beacham has partial insight but shows definite improvement from earlier in the year. He is cooperative in taking his long-acting injectable medications every four weeks. Outside of the February 2025 incident, the evidence supports that Mr. Beacham has abstained from substance use. It was submitted that Mr. Beacham has shown that he has the capacity for independent living and that hopefully he will ultimately be able to access same in the future.
Analysis and Conclusion
The Board unanimously finds that Mr. Beacham represents a significant threat to the safety of the public. That was the joint position of the parties, and we find so independently on the evidence before us. This is based on Mr. Beacham’s history of serious violence, particularly to the victim of the aggravated assault and the offence for which he was found NCR. He suffers from a major mental illness that is directly related to his violence. Mr. Beacham has a significant history of substance abuse and some limitations on his insight.
Mr. Beacham began the year with great difficulty. To his credit and that of the treatment team, there has been very positive and substantial improvement since the writing of the hospital report, in the past several months. This was due to Dr. Leinonen’s engagement with Mr. Beacham and Mr. Beacham’s agreement to commence injectable antipsychotic medications. The evidence before us is that he has been cooperative in taking his medications, albeit not at the increased dosing currently recommended by Dr. Leinonen. He is greatly more engaged with both co-patients and his treatment team and is engaging in activities. He has used his indirectly supervised hospital grounds privileges without any difficulty. There is no evidence of any substance use since February 2025 despite his greater access while on the hospital grounds. The treatment team is now expecting that with continued progress Mr. Beacham can now progress toward the use of independently supervised community privileges. The treatment team recognizes that, in light of Mr. Beacham’s history, they must move forward cautiously.
As per the evidence, it is hoped that in light of his very serious substance use history that as these increases in privileges are granted, there will be more focus on substance use programming. Dr. Leinonen and the team have necessarily had to have been focused on addressing Mr. Beacham’s serious psychotic symptoms over the past number of months. In doing so, these have greatly improved. With that, it is anticipated, as per the evidence, they will now have the opportunity to also work at clarifying diagnostic issues that remain.
Mr. Beacham’s current Disposition grants him a wide range of privileges, up to and including living in the community. It affords Mr. Beacham the opportunity to progress in the upcoming year. It is hoped that he will continue to have a positive rapport with Dr. Leinonen and his treatment team which will hopefully result in even further improvements in his mental health and provide the opportunity for increased reintegration into the community.
It is hoped by us that the treatment team will also ensure communication with the victim of the index offence takes place as appropriate, which appears to have been lacking at the time of Mr. Beacham’s 2025 AWOL.
For all of these reasons, we order that his current Disposition be maintained. We do so in consideration of the primary need to protect public safety, Mr. Beacham’s mental condition, his reintegration into the community and his other needs.
DATED this 3rd day of October 2025, at the City of Toronto, in the Toronto Region.
C. Fromstein,
Alternate Chairperson
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Office of the Registrar
Ontario Review Board