Re: Ronald William England
ORB File No: 2429
Hearing Held On: Thursday, September 25, 2025
Place of Hearing: Waypoint Centre for Mental Health
Pursuant To: Section 672.81(1) of the Criminal Code
Before:
Alternate Chairperson:Ms. T. Mann
Members: Dr. K. Hand
Dr. G. Kerry
Ms. A. La Viola
Ms. R. Chopra
Parties Appearing:
Accused: Ronald William England
Counsel: Ms. C. Francis
Person in charge of Hospital: Representative: Ms. T. Newman
Attorney-General of Ontario: Counsel: Ms. S. Curry
REASONS FOR DISPOSITION
(Dated December 3, 2025)
OVERVIEW
- Ronald William England was found not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder on January 30, 1997, on two charges of second degree murder, contrary to the Criminal Code. He is currently subject to a disposition of the Ontario Review Board dated July 19, 2024, detaining him at the Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care – Brébeuf Program for Regional Forensics, Penetanguishene, Ontario. The terms include privileges extending to passes into the Waypoint catchment area community, indirectly supervised on an approved itinerary, and passes into the Province of Ontario beyond the communities of Penetanguishene and Midland, accompanied by staff or an approved person.
ISSUES
On September 22, 2025, the Board convened at Waypoint for a hearing further to s. 672.81(1) of the Criminal Code to review the disposition. The Board was asked to determine whether Mr. England represented a significant threat to the safety of the public at the time of the hearing, and further, what the necessary and appropriate disposition is in the circumstances according to the factors set out in s. 672.54 of the Criminal Code.
At the outset of the hearing, the representative for the Hospital and Counsel for the Attorney General submitted their respective views – Mr. England continues to represent a significant threat to the safety of the public – both agreeing that he continues to require the forensic hospital setting at the Brébeuf Program, under the current disposition, with no change.
On the other hand, Counsel for Mr. England submitted that the Board should consider whether overnight travel passes, from 24 to 72 hours, within the catchment area of Waypoint or in Ontario, with an approved itinerary, would be appropriate. Counsel stated that the increase in privileges would reflect the fact that Mr. England has been detained for a considerable amount of time, and he would like to work towards ‘going on a river cruise’ at some point in his life.
FINDINGS
- After reviewing both the documentary and oral evidence, and submissions of the parties presented at the time of the hearing, the Board found that Mr. England continues to represent a significant threat to the safety of the public. Accordingly, the Board determined that a detention order is required to manage the risk to the public, and for reasons that follow in more detail below, the Board concluded that since Mr. England has not yet attained the highest level of privileges available under his current disposition, any increased level of privileges would be premature at this time. As a result, the current disposition will continue to be in place, with no change.
BACKGROUND
The Hospital Report dated May 5, 2025 (with an updated version dated August 13, 2025), was entered as an exhibit at the hearing. The following background information, including the events surrounding the index offences has been taken from the Hospital Report, summarized here as follows.
Mr. England was experiencing severe symptoms of mental illness, and on April 2, 1996, he made a 911 call to the Durham Regional Police, claiming responsibility for fatally stabbing his mother and daughter. After providing his location, he waited for the police, who arrived to discover the two victims deceased. At the police station, Mr. England recounted his actions that morning – he woke up early, watched television, acquired a knife from the kitchen, and proceeded to his mother's bedroom to stab her. His six-year-old daughter attempted to intervene – expressing her love in hopes of stopping him – but he turned to stab her as well. Mr. England explained his actions to police – attributing his attack on his mother to the ‘hurt’ she had caused throughout his life, and he viewed the harm done to his daughter as part of a ‘vendetta’ against his daughter’s mother’s family.
Mr. England, who is currently 73 years old, spent his early years in Nova Scotia and Ontario before moving to Chicago, Illinois. His military service began when he joined the U.S. Army in 1971, serving on active duty in Vietnam for an eight-month period. During his service, he began experiencing paranoid symptoms and developed depression, which included thoughts of suicide. Subsequently, he moved back to the Toronto area to be near his mother, where he largely maintained stability for about nine years through regular antipsychotic medication.
In 1986, Mr. England’s condition worsened after he stopped taking his medication, leading to threatening behaviour towards his mother and his girlfriend. An episode of violent aggression against his girlfriend resulted in his hospitalization under the Mental Health Act, where he was treated for schizophrenia with paranoid features. Over the next decade, his outpatient care was inconsistent, marked by missed appointments, irregular medication adherence, persisting psychosis symptoms, significant emotional and financial stress, and worries about his mental wellbeing and his potential for violence.
By 1989, he was living with a girlfriend who also had mental health issues, and he took on a parental role when her daughter was born. Although his condition seemed to improve, the relationship ended, and in 1992, Mr. England and his mother were granted temporary custody of the child, with a stipulation that he continue psychiatric treatment. In 1993, they moved to a new home in Bowmanville to provide a stable environment for the girl. However, his mother’s health problems and his own delusional tendencies led to volatile and unstable behaviour, exacerbated by discontinuing medication and psychiatric support.
His final contact with his family doctor was in March 1996 (shortly before the index offences occurred), where he believed his situation was under control.
A check of the Canadian Police Information Centre database showed that Mr. England had no criminal record prior to the index offences. He had two charges in 1993 which did not lead to convictions, for assault (discharged) and sexual assault (withdrawn).
Mr. England’s current psychiatric diagnoses are Schizophrenia (Paranoid Type) and Narcissistic Personality Disorder. He has been found incapable of making decisions about his medical treatment, but he is capable of managing his finances. His cousin is his substitute decision maker (although, his cousin has had some medical health issues and is not currently doing well). Mr. England is financially supported by a United States Veteran’s pension from his time in the military.
Since the NCR finding in 1997, Mr. England’s course under the Board’s jurisdiction has been extensively documented, primarily through the Hospital Report, which provides annual accounts of his treatment and progress. Initially detained at the Oak Ridge Division of the Mental Health Centre in Penetanguishene (now known as Waypoint), he has since remained there on the Brébeuf Program.
Over the years, his condition has been characterized by persistent delusional beliefs and a lack of insight for the importance of ongoing treatment. Although last year he demonstrated an increase in the use of his privileges, he also displayed signs of verbal aggression and sexualizing remarks, and his personality evaluations described him as a ‘kind but anxious individual prone to feelings of alienation and self-dissatisfaction.’
Mr. England’s mental state has remained largely unchanged, continuing to be dominated by grandiose and religious delusions similar to those at the time of the index offences. He maintains the belief that his actions were the result of hypnosis, convinced he had somehow benefited his mother and daughter, and he continues to express the hope that his daughter is still alive.
A significant incident was his escalating frustration and intolerance towards others, leading to loud verbal outbursts and bullying behaviour towards a co-patient. This culminated in an incident on February 4, 2024, when he punched a co-patient multiple times at the care desk, prompting staff to place him in seclusion, until he agreed to keep his distance.
Concerns were raised about his increasing risk, and actions were taken to temporarily restrict his community passes. Nonetheless, by April 19, 2024, Mr. England appeared to be returning to his baseline mental state. While he has not engaged in physical violence during this review, he has exhibited verbal hostility towards staff and peers, including confrontations and inappropriate comments, notably a community incident involving a jewelry store.
Notwithstanding, Mr. England has actively participated in recreational activities, including sports, music, and community outings, and he takes pride in his appearance and self-care. His physical health is stable, and he manages his finances adequately, despite a substantial tax debt from his military retirement.
Mr. England expresses a desire to move into the community, but he remains cautious about transitioning, at times stating he prefers to stay at Waypoint. He has been participating in community activities such as visiting friends, dining out, and attending movies, and he openly discusses his physical fitness, comparing himself favorably to a 30-year-old. He also continues to support his ailing cousin financially. And Mr. England has been continuously working on repaying taxes owed to the CRA.
EVIDENCE AT THE HEARING
The evidence included comprehensive testimony from Dr. A. Jones regarding the current mental health status and behaviour of Mr. England. Dr. Jones stated that she had read and adopted the risk assessment, reaffirming her opinion that Mr. England’s disposition should remain unchanged. The treatment team has approved Mr. England for privileges allowing him to spend up to six hours on the grounds with indirect supervision, which commenced this summer, with the possibility of reaching up to 12 hours, although currently on hold, and has only recently increased from four to six hours.
Dr. Jones considered whether Mr. England could reach the 12-hour ceiling within the next year, and the treatment team agreed not to support this, citing ongoing risk management concerns and safety issues related to his boundary violations. Mr. England’s aspiration to live in the community (in transitional housing), was also addressed, and the treatment team is not in favour of this move – given his current risk assessment, and the lack of skills assessment for independent living – noting his longstanding challenges with maintaining his living environment outside the hospital.
Dr. Jones emphasized that Mr. England remains strongly tied to his beliefs and delusions, including his conviction that the index offence did not happen as reported and that he was hypnotized. The treatment team remains cautious regarding his community access (previously restricted after incidents with the co-patient, and the jewellery store altercation). Despite Mr. England’s ability to handle six-hour passes without difficulty – there are ongoing concerns about boundary issues, inappropriate comments, and psychotic symptoms that support a cautious approach, and no plans are in place to increase his privileges further at this time.
Notwithstanding, Mr. England meaningfully engages in activities outside the hospital, such as playing guitar, participating in talent shows, and visiting former patients, and all have been without any behavioural incidents.
The treatment team recognizes his efforts to work towards greater independence but highlights that his risk remains primarily driven by symptoms resistant to treatment, and that additional information and circumstances – such as his itinerary compliance and manageability of symptoms. The risks associated with extending privileges, including overnight stays, or living in the community, outweigh the benefits, mainly due to the long-term nature of his symptoms and past conflicts, and so they will continue to monitor his progress closely. The treatment team does not support residential community living at this time, as he lacks the skills necessary for independent living, such as medication management, and basic self-care, which have not been formally assessed and would require further development.
Dr. Jones emphasized that Mr. England’s fixed delusions, such as believing he is on a divine mission or that his index offences were a form of hypnotic manipulation, are significant barriers to granting privileges like overnight passes or travel. These delusions, motivated by grandiose and persecutory beliefs, are longstanding and unlikely to fully resolve. The focus remains on risk reduction over the next 12 months, especially in light of past incidents and boundary issues.
Mr. England addressed the Board about an incident where he ‘smacked a guy.’ He stated that he believes others said he was a special asset, and that if he just went with the breeze, he would have to become an immovable object and force, as that is not going to change. He emphasized that he has been in hospital for over 29 years, and he has been evolving. He explained that when he was younger, he started to see things, connections, and the bible. He stated that he does not feel he has been heavily punished, and he compared his lifestyle to that of ‘living in a castle, comfortable in winter and summer,’ and he thanked the Board.
CONCLUSION
The Board finds that despite compliance with medication within a highly structured inpatient environment, over the years, there has been no reduction in Mr. England’s significant threat to public safety. His lack of insight into his mental illness is pervasive, demonstrating a distortive recollection of the index offences, which continues to present a barrier to recovery, and reintegration efforts. This, combined with his persistent delusional beliefs, and recent aggressive behaviours towards others, underscores that he continues to represent a significant threat to the safety of the public.
Mr. England's continued detention within the Brébeuf Program remains necessary and appropriate. While there seems to be some stabilization with the administration, and compliance with clozapine, his risk level has remained static notwithstanding. His ongoing delusions, poor impulse control, and history of boundary-crossing behaviours, make community reintegration extremely unsafe at this time. While some of his current progress – such as participation in recreational activities – show some stability, they do not mitigate the overarching risks associated with his current mental status, and behavioural patterns.
Although challenges remain, the Board also recognizes the progress Mr. England has made this year, including his increasing engagement in activities and adherence to treatment. Overall, the Board is encouraged by the small, but meaningful steps taken over the past year, and we remain hopeful that with ongoing support and treatment, Mr. England will continue his efforts in building a stable and positive future, increasing his achievements in the upcoming year.
DATED this 3rd day of December 2025, at the City of Toronto, in the Toronto Region.
Ms. A. La Viola
Legal Member
Office of the Registrar
Ontario Review Board