Ontario Review Board
Re: Jacob H. Veltheer
ORB File No: 7226
Hearing held on: Tuesday, November 25, 2025
Place of hearing: Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences 700 Gordon Street, Whitby
Pursuant to: Section 672.81(1) of the Criminal Code
Before: Alternate Chairperson: Mr. G. Beasley Members: Dr. T. Wilkie Dr. M. Kalia Mr. R. Bigelow Ms. B. Little
Parties Appearing:
Accused: Jacob H. Veltheer Counsel: Mr. T. Whillier
The person in charge of hospital: Counsel: Ms. A. Marshall
Attorney General of Ontario: Counsel: Ms. N. MacDonald
REASONS FOR DISPOSITION
(Dated December 29, 2025)
Introduction
[1]. On September 25, 2017, the accused Jacob Veltheer, was found not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder on a charge of first-degree murder, contrary to the Criminal Code of Canada. By reason of a Disposition of the Ontario Review Board (“ORB”) dated November 26, 2024, Mr. Veltheer was ordered to be detained within the Forensic Program at Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences (“Ontario Shores”) with privileges up to and including residing in the community in supervised accommodation approved by the person in charge.
[2]. On November 25, 2025, the ORB convened a hearing at Ontario Shores for the annual review of Mr. Veltheer’s Disposition pursuant to s. 672.81(1) of the Criminal Code. Mr. Veltheer was in attendance and represented by counsel, Mr. Whillier. Ms. Marshall appeared as counsel for the hospital and Ms. MacDonald as counsel for the Attorney General of Ontario.
Index Offence
[3]. The circumstances of the index offence as taken from the Hospital Report, are as follows:
“On February 7, 2016 at 2117 hours, York Regional Police responded to a 911 call at 209 Harding Blvd W. in the town of Richmond Hill.
Attending officers entered the residence and located Maggie Veltheer inside the basement apartment area. Maggie informed the officers that her husband, Robert Veltheer was dead and that her son Jacob was diagnosed with schizophrenia and missing. Robert Veltheer was observed lying on the ground with obvious signs of blunt force trauma to the head. Robert was pronounced deceased by paramedics.
Attending officers secured and searched the interior of the residence. K9 and ERU officers searched the area, with no results.
At 2124hr, assistance from Air2 (police helicopter) was requested. Air2 completed a search of the area, checking backyards surrounding the residence, the ravine south of the residence and north to Mill Pond. Air2 also assisted to the K9 and ERU while going through the ravine. Air2 continued searching the Yonge St area and north and south on along Yonge St.
On 08/02/16 at 1329 hours, PC King observed a male improperly dressed for the weather, on the side of Highway 48, south of 21159 Highway 48 in the Town of East Gwillimbury. When the officer questioned the male to assess his welfare and question his name, the male addressed himself as Jacob Veltheer. PC King was aware that Jacob Veltheer was wanted for the murder of his father. Mr. Veltheer stated he did not do anything wrong and asked if he was free to leave. He was told he was, and Mr. Veltheer proceeded to walk northbound. PC King requested back up for safety reasons and continued to follow Mr. Veltheer north up the driveway of 21159 Highway 48. PC King was concerned that Mr. Veltheer may try to enter the house or run. PC King advised Mr. Veltheer that he was under arrest for murder. He was searched, handcuffed and he was placed in the cruiser.”
Current Diagnoses
[4]. Mr. Veltheer’s current diagnoses are as follows:
Schizophrenia Polysubstance Use Disorder – in sustained remission
Criminal History
[5]. Mr. Veltheer did not have any convictions for criminal offences prior to the index offence.
Background and Personal History
[6]. Mr. Veltheer’s background and personal history are reviewed in the Hospital Report which was filed as an exhibit. For that reason there will be no extensive reference to the details. By way of summary, at the time of the hearing Mr. Veltheer was 39 years of age. He was the oldest of three siblings, but a younger brother passed away in 2011 due to a heroin overdose. Mr. Veltheer was described as being introverted as a child. At the age of eight he was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and started on Ritalin which lasted for about two years. After initially doing poorly in elementary school, Mr. Veltheer was home schooled for grades 4 and 5 before returning to school for grade 6. In secondary school he had below average marks until grade 12 when he became more serious about schooling and achieved an 80% average. He completed two years of a Chemical Engineering Program at McMaster University but dropped out after his brother’s death. Mr. Veltheer had very limited work experience, being employed in a warehouse for a number of months. Mr. Veltheer denies having any romantic relationships. Mr. Veltheer had an extensive history of alcohol and drug consumption commencing with cannabis use in grade 11 or 12. He had also experimented with magic mushrooms, ecstasy, salvia, heroin, LSD, cocaine, and ketamine. In June 2013, Mr. Veltheer attempted suicide by overdosing on ecstasy.
[7]. Mr. Veltheer had numerous admissions for psychiatric care commencing in December 2006. Further details of each admission are outlined in the Hospital Report. The last admission prior to the index offence occurred from July 28, 2015 to August 14, 2015 at Southlake Regional Health Centre. Mr. Veltheer was admitted on a Form 47 after his CTO Coordinator reported that he had not been attending his appointments and was deteriorating in his mental health.
Position of the Parties
[8]. At the outset of the hearing Ms. Marshall submitted that Mr. Veltheer continues to represent a significant threat to the safety of the public and that the necessary and appropriate disposition was a continuation of the current Detention Order without amendment. Mr. Whillier and Ms. MacDonald both supported the recommendation of the hospital.
Evidence
[9]. The evidence on behalf of the hospital was presented by Dr. Pallandi. He is Mr. Veltheer’s outpatient psychiatrist and the co-author of the Hospital Report. Dr. Pallandi stated that there were no updates to the report since its completion. Dr. Pallandi stated that in his opinion Mr. Veltheer is currently optimally treated. There have been a number of changes to his medication over the past reporting year, but these are done in a very slow and cautious manner. Dr. Pallandi stated that Mr. Veltheer is fully compliant with his antipsychotic medication. Dr. Pallandi said that in terms of housing, Mr. Veltheer has not had any issues at his current residence. He is very cooperative and in Dr. Pallandi’s words, “they like him there.” He stated that the residence has been a very good placement for Mr. Veltheer. Dr. Pallandi stated it is transitional housing, and it is quite possible that in the course of the upcoming reporting year the treatment team will look at lower support housing for Mr. Veltheer.
[10]. In response to a question from Ms. Marshall, Dr. Pallandi stated that he was the author of the risk assessment portion of the Hospital Report and that he adopted the contents found on page 44. When asked about the possibility of a Conditional Discharge, Dr. Pallandi stated that at this time it was premature. He stated that Mr. Veltheer presents a “complex case.” Dr. Pallandi stated that Mr. Veltheer has been in the community for a relatively brief period of time. He said that the treatment team need to have the ability to approve housing for Mr. Veltheer. Dr. Pallandi stated that he had discussed this with Mr. Veltheer and that given how well everything is working at the present time the treatment team do not wish to change anything which might compromise this period of stability and success in transitioning to the community. Dr. Pallandi stated that Mr. Veltheer is symptomatic and there is a very real chance that his symptoms can change quickly with a concurrent elevation in his level of risk.
[11]. Ms. MacDonald did not have any questions for Dr. Pallandi.
[12]. Mr. Whillier referred to Mr. Veltheer’s expression set out in the Hospital Report of a wish to consume alcohol. He asked if the treatment team had given consideration to any amendment to the substance prohibition. Dr. Pallandi stated that there might be a time in the future when an amendment might be considered but that was difficult to predict. When asked by Mr. Whillier if Mr. Veltheer had any insight into the use of alcohol and its effect on his mental status, Dr. Pallandi stated that he was surprised at Mr. Veltheer's request to allow alcohol consumption. Dr. Pallandi stated that in his discussions Mr. Veltheer had expressed an interest in having a social drink with his mother and that this did display some limited insight.
[13]. In response to a question from a member of the Board, Dr. Pallandi stated that Mr. Veltheer had mentioned the possibility of returning to the use of alcohol in the past but that they had had a more detailed discussion in the past several weeks. Dr. Pallandi stated that Mr. Veltheer accepted Dr. Pallandi’s position that given the recent successes that Mr. Veltheer has been able to demonstrate, it would not be appropriate to introduce the use of alcohol at this time. Dr. Pallandi said that Mr. Veltheer had also initially expressed an interest in receiving a Conditional Discharge but during the same discussion, he understood and accepted the recommendation of the treatment team. Dr. Pallandi stated that Mr. Veltheer is subject to random screening for substance use and there have been no positive screens.
[14]. Neither Mr. Whillier nor Ms. MacDonald called evidence at the hearing.
Submissions
[15]. At the conclusion of the evidence, all counsel reiterated the joint submission made at the outset of the hearing that the necessary and appropriate disposition was a continuation of the current Detention Order without amendment.
Analysis and Disposition
[16]. At the outset of the hearing, the Board was presented with a joint submission that Mr. Veltheer continues to represent a significant threat to the safety of the public. In his evidence, Dr. Pallandi adopted the Clinical Assessment of Risk which he authored and is found on page 44 of the Hospital Report as follows:
“Mr. Veltheer’s risk is accounted for principally by ongoing symptoms of his underlying major mental illness, reminiscent of those at the time of the commission of the index offense which of course was of the highest gravity.
Of some concern is he has expressed an interest in the return to the use of substances which certainly could have a destabilizing effect upon his overall mental state and secondarily increasing his risk to the safety of the public.
He has been agreeable and pleasant with his treatment team and has followed all treatment recommendations. He has not engaged in any aggressive or problematic conduct of any kind. He is reported to be doing well in his housing in the community, and he maintains a good relationship with his mother.
Considering all of these factors, we would enumerate his risk to fall in the moderate range while subject the current Disposition.”
[17]. At page 43, the Hospital Report states that an empirically based Assessment of risk was not updated because there were no significant clinical changes in Mr. Veltheer’s presentation and no change in the disposition being recommended. In reviewing the most recent actuarial risk assessment completed for the disposition hearing in 2024, the Primary Re-Offence Scenario for Future Violence is found on page 40 of the Hospital Report as follows:
“According to the HCR-20^V3^ a re-offence scenario “is not a prediction about what will happen; rather, it is a projection about what could happen” (pg. 57). With that in mind, a possible re-offence scenario, given a transition to the community under a Conditional Discharge, includes the following: The most likely re-offence scenario, given a move to a sole occupancy apartment, would be if Mr. Veltheer were to experience an exacerbation of his psychotic symptoms. This could be triggered by the use of illicit substances accessed from the community, an alteration in his medication regimen, and/or related to difficulty in coping with stressors upon transition (e.g., new environment, increased demand for independence, increased boredom, and social isolation). Based on his history, Mr. Veltheer may become quietly symptomatic. His auditory hallucinations may become increasingly command in nature and may direct him to harm others in order to obtain powers or to save himself from some aversive consequence, as similar to the index offence. Alternatively, his delusional belief system regarding punishment of “sinners” may become more compelling. Potential victims include staff, family, or members of the community. Based on history, the potential outcome of physical or serious psychological harm could be severe.
Level of Risk and Management Plan: Based on the above assessment, Mr. Veltheer is considered a high-moderate risk to reoffend violently if he were awarded a Conditional Discharge. Under the current disposition, Mr. Veltheer’s support needs are well met, and his risk for violent re-offense is considered low with a continuation of that disposition. It is, therefore, respectfully recommended that Mr. Veltheer transition into the community with the full support of a Detention Order before moving forward with the ORB process.”
[18]. The Board notes the evidence that the index offence was one of extreme violence. As stated by Dr. Pallandi in his evidence, Mr. Veltheer represents a “complex case.” The treatment team have been very cautious in a gradual transition to the community which only occurred in June 2024. To his credit, Mr. Veltheer has worked co-operatively with Dr. Pallandi and the treatment team and has accepted that any change to his Disposition must occur slowly so as not to interfere with the stability and success he has demonstrated to this point. The Board is unanimous in finding that the joint submission for continuation of the current Disposition without amendment is well founded on the evidence of Dr. Pallandi and the contents of the Hospital Report.
DATED this 29th day of December 2025, at the City of Toronto, in the Region of Toronto.
Mr. G. Beasley Alternate Chairperson
____________________________ Office of the Registrar Ontario Review Board