Ontario Review Board
Re: Jonathan G. Madden-Patrick
ORB File No: 7587/8851
Hearing held on: Thursday, December 4, 2025
Place of Hearing: Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre
Pursuant to: Section 672.47(1) of the Criminal Code
Before:
Alternate Chairperson: Mr. J. Weinstein
Members: Dr. R. Kunjukrishnan
Dr. R. Cormier Mr. D. Sandor
Mr. A. Bernardo
Parties Appearing:
Accused: Jonathan G. Madden-Patrick
Counsel: Ms. M. Munsterman
Person in charge of hospital: Representative: Dr. F. Wood
Attorney-General of Ontario: Counsel: Ms. E. Davies
REASONS FOR DISPOSITION
(Dated January 5, 2026)
Introduction
NCR Finding 1 (“NCR 1”): On August 21, 2019, Mr. Jonathan G. Madden-Patrick was found not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder, on charges of repeatedly following another person from place to place and utter a threat to cause death or bodily harm, both contrary to the Criminal Code of Canada (“Criminal Code”).
Mr. Madden-Patrick is subject to a Disposition of the Ontario Review Board (“the Board”), dated March 17, 2025, which orders that he be detained at the Secure Forensic Unit of the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre (“Royal Ottawa”). This Disposition orders that he refrain from contact or communication, direct or indirect, with Rowan Baron or any of her family members. It also prohibits him from entering the community of London, Ontario.
NCR Finding 2 (“NCR 2”): On August 22, 2025, Mr. Madden-Patrick was found not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder, on charges of harassment by repeated communication, and of harassment by watching and besetting, both contrary to the Criminal Code of Canada.
The Court did not make a Disposition for NCR 2. It ordered that this matter be referred to the Board for an initial Disposition, pursuant to s. 672.47(1) of the Criminal Code. Mr. Madden-Patrick is subject to a release order and is currently living in the community.
On December 4, 2025, the Board convened a hearing at Royal Ottawa to make an initial Disposition regarding NCR 2.
Mr. Madden-Patrick was present at the hearing and was represented by his counsel, Ms. M. Munsterman.
A Hospital Report, dated November 6, 2025 (the "Hospital Report"), was entered as Exhibit 1.
The issues at this hearing were whether Mr. Madden-Patrick is a significant threat to public safety, as defined in s. 672.5401 of the Criminal Code, and, if so, what is the necessary and appropriate Disposition in the circumstances, bearing in mind the factors enunciated in s. 672.54 of the Criminal Code.
For the reasons set out below and based on the expert evidence and opinions before us, the Board concluded that Mr. Madden-Patrick does represent a significant threat to the safety of the public. The Board found that the necessary and appropriate Disposition in the circumstances for NCR 2, is a Detention Order that mirrors his current Disposition for NCR 1.
Current Psychiatric Diagnoses
Delusional disorder – erotomanic type
Cannabis Use Disorder – moderate, active
Hallucinogen use disorder, moderate, in remission
Schizoid personality traits
ADHD in-attentive subtype
Position of the Parties
Dr. Wood, (as representative of the hospital, and as the most responsible physician), counsel for the Attorney-General and counsel for Mr. Madden-Patrick advised that this was a joint submission: all adopted the hospital recommendation of a Detention Order for NCR 2, upon the same terms and conditions as contained in his current Disposition for NCR 1.
For the purposes of this hearing, counsel for Mr. Madden-Patrick advised that significant threat was not in dispute.
Index Offences
NCR 1
- The circumstances giving rise to NCR 1 are extracted from last year’s Board Reasons, as follows:
“Mr. Johnathan Madden-Patrick, 23 years old, and the victim Rowan Baron, a female of 21 years of age, had known each other for the past eight years. They have never been involved in an intimate relationship. Mr. Madden-Patrick at that time resided in Ottawa and Ms. Baron resided in London.
Mr. Madden-Patrick and Ms. Baron met approximately eight years ago through Mr. Madden-Patrick’s mother and Ms. Baron’s stepfather who were friends. Over the years, Mr. Madden-Patrick had become obsessed with Ms. Baron and had continued to send unwanted emails and messages through Facebook Mr. Madden-Patrick had indicated that he feels that there are soul mates and should be together.
On April 4, 2017, Ms. Baron contacted the police in relation to unwanted contact from Mr. Madden-Patrick. A member of the London Police Services attended and spoke with Ms. Baron. At that time, Mr. Madden-Patrick’s whereabouts were unknown and he could not be spoken with. The unwanted emails and messages continued.
On July 16, 2018, Mr. Madden-Patrick sent a threatening message to Ms. Baron and stated that he was taking the bus to London. Ms. Barron contacted the London Police Services and Constable Patrick Larochelle instigated the incident. Ms. Baron did not want charges laid. Constable located Mr. Madden-Patrick at the Salvation Army. Mr. Madden-Patrick was warned in regards to criminal harassment and advised to stop all communications with Ms. Baron.
On August 8, 2018, at 3:59 p.m., Ms. Baron contacted the London Police Services in relation to further unwanted messages and threats received from Mr. Madden-Patrick. Since the day Mr. Madden-Patrick was warned by Constable LaRochelle, Mr. Madden-Patrick had continued to send Ms. Baron 30 to 50 messages a day. These messages continued the same day in which he was warned by Constable LaRochelle. Many of these messages did not make sense and others were threatening in nature.
On August 7, 2018, Ms. Baron received the following two messages from Mr. Madden-Patrick: “I am going to massacre your family for not forcing me onto you” and “I am going to murder you with your penis because tea and gentle”.
In one of the messages, Mr. Madden-Patrick stated that he was a taking a Greyhound bus to London and would be arriving just after 3:00 a.m. Ms. Baron stated that she was fearful of Mr. Madden-Patrick and was concerned he would come to London from Ottawa. At 3:03 a.m. a constable arrested Mr. Madden-Patrick at the Greyhound bus station in London.”
NCR 2
- The circumstances giving rise to the index offence for NCR 2 are detailed in the Hospital report and involve Mr. Madden-Patrick and the victim, Rowan Baron, who have known each other for approximately 13 years but were never in an intimate relationship. The offences occurred in January 2025 and can be summarized as follows:
a) Harassment by Repeated Communication (CCC 264(2)(b)): Between January 7 and January 21, 2025, Madden-Patrick sent multiple emails and Facebook messages to Baron, violating a non-communication order issued by the Board.
i. Messages included apologetic notes, claims of psychic connection, and concerning statements such as "Ok. So, you've got something to worry about from me," and "Hey, I need you to not call the cops on me or have sex with anyone until I see you again."
ii. Baron did not respond to any of the messages and reported feeling fearful of Madden-Patrick.
b) Harassment by Watching and Besetting (CCC 264(2)(c)):
i. On January 25, 2025, Madden-Patrick traveled to London, Ontario, violating his ORB Disposition not to enter the city.
ii. He was seen pacing on the victim's driveway and walking up her front porch, leaving an umbrella behind. The victim’s mother, Kathryn Baron, confronted him and called the police.
iii. Madden-Patrick was arrested near the victim’s residence after being tracked by a police canine unit. He was found hiding behind a dumpster and was bitten by the police dog during the arrest.
iv. Madden-Patrick later explained his actions as being influenced by psychotic symptoms, including auditory hallucinations, delusions of a psychic connection with the victim, and paranoia. He believed the victim was in danger from human traffickers and felt compelled to rescue her.
Personal Background and Psychiatric History
- Mr. Madden-Patrick’s personal background and psychiatric history are outlined in the Hospital Report, and they are accurately summarized in last year’s Reasons:
“When Mr. Madden-Patrick was three, his parents separated. Mr. Madden-Patrick has identified his mother’s subsequent partner, Stephane, as his stepfather. At the age of ten, Mr. Madden-Patrick lived for about a year with his maternal grandmother in Madoc, Ontario. From the age of eleven to nineteen, he lived with his mother and younger brother at four different locations in Hull, Quebec. The family experienced financial stress.
Mr. Madden-Patrick was able to resume contact with his father in more recent years. The father lives off the grid, in a rural bush location outside Ottawa. At times, the father would supply Mr. Madden-Patrick with home-grown marijuana.
In 2017, Mr. Madden-Patrick lived in Toronto, staying with a friend of his brother. He wanted to be closer to Ms. Baron, the victim of the index offence. He later returned to Ottawa to live with his mother for a time - before the index offence occurred in 2018.
Mr. Madden-Patrick had his first contact with mental health services in July 2018. Just prior to the index offence, London Police had brought him to Emergency Services in London. When seen in psychiatry, Mr. Madden-Patrick exhibited considerable psychotic symptoms, including delusions regarding the victim. He refused to take medication and discharged with a diagnosis of Psychosis-not otherwise specified. He then returned to Ottawa by bus. The hospital report sets out details of subsequent psychiatric contacts, both in Ottawa and London.
Course since Last Disposition
On August 22, 2025, Mr. Madden-Patrick was deemed Not Criminally Responsible (“NCR”) for his most recent harassment offences, based on an assessment by Dr. Alabi.
On June 25, 2025, Mr. Madden-Patrick was released on bail to his mother’s home in Pembroke, under house arrest conditions, including wearing a GPS ankle monitor.
Mr. Madden-Patrick resumed daily cannabis use, despite it being a breach of his Disposition. He cited family influence, and discomfort from his eczema, as reasons for using cannabis. No psychotic symptoms have re-emerged, but his cannabis use limits his candidacy for the Lebreton Residence program.
Mr. Madden-Patrick has been on Invega Sustenna (a long-acting injectable antipsychotic) since June 2025, although he initially expressed reluctance to the medication because of its perceived limited benefits. He has also been prescribed Zoloft for anxiety and Seroquel for insomnia, but his adherence to all his prescribed medications has been inconsistent.
Mr. Madden-Patrick’s psychotic symptoms, including delusions and auditory hallucinations, have declined significantly. However, he continues to struggle to reconcile past psychotic experiences and to differentiate reality from psychosis. He has ongoing anxiety, depressive features, and intermittent, passive, suicidal ideation.
Mr. Madden-Patrick has been living with his mother, brother, and uncle in Pembroke. He has expressed a preference to remain in Pembroke, but he has resisted engaging with the Pembroke Assertive Community Treatment Team (ACTT). This resistance has limited the team’s ability to provide in-person support.
Mr. Madden-Patrick resumed virtual psychotherapy sessions with Ms. Proulx in July 2025. He initially struggled with attendance, but he has shown improvement since mid-September. Therapy focuses on emotional processing, sleep issues, motivation, and substance use.
The treatment team is aiming to encourage engagement with Pembroke ACTT, optimize medication adherence, and provide psychoeducation. The team also plans to continue working with his mother to support his recovery.
Evidence at the Hearing:
- The Board had available to it the evidence and documents forming the Record, the Exhibits, and oral evidence from Dr. Wood. Dr. Wood co-authored the Hospital Report and testified as follows:
a) Mr. Madden-Patrick has decided that he wants to remain in Pembroke and to continue living with his mother, brother and uncle. His mother wants him to live with them, and the family members are very supportive.
b) Mr. Madden-Patrick has monthly meetings with his social worker, Mr. Robins, ongoing psychology sessions with Ms. Proulx, and oversight from Dr. Wood.
c) Mr. Madden-Patrick voluntarily accepted taking his long-acting, injectable anti-psychotic, Invega (LAI), while in custody. This acceptance shows that he is developing insight into his need for medication. He is also receiving a moderate dose of Zoloft for his depressive symptoms, and this dosage still needs to be optimized.
d) Mr. Madden-Patrick also suffers from ADHD, inattentive subtype, and this condition should be added to his diagnoses.
e) Mr. Madden-Patrick is also taking Seroquel for insomnia, although his compliance appears to be inconsistent.
f) He has resumed using cannabis, after a sustained period of abstinence. Cannabis use is a risk factor, as it reduces the effectiveness of his anti-psychotic medication.
g) Mr. Madden-Patrick is struggling to reconcile his past delusions and psychosis with reality. His insight into his delusional beliefs is emerging, but still fragile, and it is causing him some discomfort.
h) Mr. Madden-Patrick still suffers from insomnia, which does destabilize his mental state.
i) The treatment team would like Mr. Madden-Patrick to be associated with an ACT Team in Pembroke, for geographical reasons, but he has been reluctant to do so. However, the team has made it clear to him that he will need to engage with an ACT Team in order to progress through the forensic system.
j) Mr. Madden-Patrick’s protective factors are: his adherence to his LAI; reconnection with his mother, brother and uncle; his mother’s good insight into his illness and the safeguards necessary to protect public safety; and his strong rapport with his psychologist and the treatment team.
k) Mr. Madden-Patrick’s delusions were persistent previously, but they are now controlled with an LAI. He is now able to reflect on his delusions, and he is less preoccupied with the victim of his delusions.
l) Mr. Madden Pattack’s delusions, symptoms of depression and ADHD are being addressed pharmacologically.
m) Mr. Madden-Patrick’s insight is better than before, but it is still developing.
- In response to questions from counsel for the Attorney-General, Dr. Wood testified:
a) Other than optimizing his anti-depressant medications, there are no changes contemplated to Mr. Madden-Patrick’s medication regimen. He is capable with respect to treatment.
b) Cannabis use increases Mr. Madden-Patrick’s risk as it reduces the effectiveness of his LAI.
c) As indicated in the Hospital Report, The Mental Health Act is not sufficient to manage Mr. Madden-Patrick’s risk to the safety of the public.
- In response to questions from counsel for Mr. Madden-Patrick, Dr. Wood testified:
a) Being on an LAI, versus an oral anti-psychotic, has helped him increase his insight.
b) Mr. Madden-Patrick’s long custody and change to an LAI, pending his NCR assessment ,improved his insight into the effects of medications on his major mental illness and the seriousness of the offences that he has committed.
c) Mr. Madden-Patrick and his family have a good rapport with the treatment team.
- In response to questions from the panel, Dr. Wood testified:
a) Mr. Madden-Patrick’s reluctance to engage with the ACT Team is most likely due to his difficulty of engaging with new providers. However, ACT Team involvement is necessary given the distance Mr. Madden-Patrick lives from Ottawa.
b) Mr. Madden-Patrick’s preoccupation with the victim of the Index Offences has improved. In conversations with Mr. Madden-Patrick the victim rarely comes up. Mr. Madden-Patrick is more involved in reconciling and reflecting on his past beliefs with respect to the victim.
- No other evidence was called.
Analysis and Conclusions:
Having heard and considered the entirety of the evidence as well as the submissions from the parties, the Board finds that Mr. Madden-Patrick is a significant threat to the safety of the public.
In Winko, the Supreme Court outlined that, in coming to the conclusion on the issue of significant risk, a Review Board should closely examine a range of evidence, including: the circumstances of the original offence; the past and expected course of the accused’s treatment; the present state of the NCR accused’s medical condition; the NCR accused’s own plans for the future; the support existing for the NCR accused in the community; and most importantly, the recommendations provided by experts who examined the NCR accused. In coming to our conclusion in this matter, the Board relies on the uncontroverted expert evidence of Dr. Wood, in addition to the documentary evidence before us.
Jonathan Madden-Patrick continues to pose a significant threat to public safety, particularly to the victim of his Index offences, for the following reasons:
(a) Despite some improvement, Mr. Madden-Patrick still exhibits erotomanic delusions and struggles to reconcile his past psychotic experiences involving the victim and the reality he is beginning to understand. He has previously breached non-communication orders and attempted to contact the victim, causing her fear.
(b) Mr. Madden-Patrick resumed daily cannabis use, which has historically exacerbated his psychotic symptoms and delusional preoccupations. Although no psychotic symptoms have re-emerged, his substance use increases the risk of destabilization.
(c) Mr. Madden-Patrick has marginal insight into his mental health issues, the benefits of antipsychotic medication, and the impact of substance use on his condition. This lack of insight heightens the risk of nonadherence with treatment and relapse.
(d) He struggles with anxiety, depressive features, and insomnia, relying on cannabis as a coping mechanism. His recovery has also been hindered by his limited engagement in psychosocial rehabilitation and his resistance to additional support (e.g., Pembroke ACTT).
(e) Madden-Patrick has a history of breaching ORB conditions, including traveling to London and contacting the victim. His recent cannabis use, and inconsistent medication adherence demonstrate ongoing issues with nonadherence.
(f) Mr. Madden-Patrick remains socially isolated, with limited prosocial relationships or support outside of his family. His living situation in Pembroke is geographically distant from his treatment team, complicating effective monitoring and intervention.
(g) Mr. Madden-Patrick’s moderate-to-high risk of future violence, particularly harassing behaviors toward the victim, stem from two major areas: 1) historical and clinical risk factors, such as previous acts of violence, substance use, major mental illness, and impulsivity, and 2) current risk management concerns, such as housing instability, poor coping mechanisms, and nonadherence.
These factors collectively indicate that Mr. Madden-Patrick is a significant threat to public safety, requiring close monitoring through a Detention Order, with community living conditions to mitigate risks and ensure public safety.
The Board also finds the Detention Order is necessary and appropriate because the hospital needs to strictly control Mr. Madden-Patrick’s place of residence. He was previously subject to a Disposition of the Board, dated February 21, 2024, which discharged him on certain conditions. Within one year of this, his mental health deteriorated, and he committed the most recent Index Offences.
For the reasons outlined in last year’s report, it was found that a Conditional Discharge was not adequate to protect public safety, and a Detention Order was issued. The rationale for the necessity of a Detention Order provided in last year’s Reasons is still applicable today, especially considering Mr. Madden-Patrick’s most recent NCR finding.
In consideration of all the evidence, submissions of the parties, and criteria set forth in s. 672.54, the paramount consideration being the safety of the public, in addition to the mental condition of Mr. Madden-Patrick, his reintegration into society and his other needs, the necessary and appropriate Disposition is a Detention Order.
DATED this 5th day of January 2026, at the City of Toronto, in the Region of Toronto.
Mr. J. Weinstein
Alternate Chairperson
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Office of the Registrar
Ontario Review Board