The man found not criminally responsible in the 2019 fatal shooting at a Salmon Arm church is to remain in custody and and continue to receive psychiatric care.
On Jan. 22, 2024, the BC Review Board (BCRB) conducted a hearing to review the disposition of Matrix Savage Paladin Gathergood, who had been charged with murder in the death of church leader Gordon Parmenter, and aggravated assault for wounding another church member, after the April 14, 2019 shooting at the Salmon Arm Church of Christ.
In 2022, a BC Supreme Court judge determined Gathergood was not criminally responsible for his actions due to a mental disorder. He was ordered to be confined to hospital while the case was forwarded to the Forensic Psychiatric Commission.
Gathergood had also been charged with arson, related to a fire at Parmenter含羞草研究社檚 residence prior to April 14, 2019. The charge was stayed.
In its January 2024 disposition, the BCRB notes Gathergood is 含羞草研究社渄iagnosed with schizophrenia, refractory to treatment and cannabis use disorder in remission in a controlled environment.含羞草研究社� It determined Gathergood 含羞草研究社渃ontinues to pose a significant risk to the public,含羞草研究社� and that the 含羞草研究社渁ppropriate disposition is one of custody含羞草研究社卟菅芯可鐫
Arriving at this decision, the board reflected on the testimonies of caregivers including Gathergood含羞草研究社檚 treating psychiatrist, Dr. Miroslava Stingu-Baxter.
According to Stingu-Baxter, Gathergood attended rehabilitation programs throughout the year as recommended and received positive feedback from facilitators. When asked about the April 2019 offences, he said he was 含羞草研究社渙bviously very sick含羞草研究社� at the time and wished he had not acted in such a violent manner. However, he still believes that speaking about 含羞草研究社渢he New World Order含羞草研究社� would threaten his safety.
含羞草研究社淢r. Gathergood told her: 含羞草研究社業 really wish I didn含羞草研究社檛 have to kill again,含羞草研究社櫤卟菅芯可鐫 reads the disposition. 含羞草研究社淗e denied plans to harm anyone but appeared intense during the conversation.含羞草研究社�
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Regarding the fire, Stingu-Baxter testified that Gathergood had no recollection of the incident, and that he said he preferred not to speak about it.
Stingu-Baxter said Gathergood needed to continue with rehabilitation programs to 含羞草研究社渉elp him understand and accept his illness, learn about the need for medication and be more transparent in his communications with the treatment team.含羞草研究社�
Gathergood含羞草研究社檚 risk is challenging to manage, according to Stingu-Baxter, 含羞草研究社渂ecause although he is an exemplary patient in many ways, he has not been enthusiastic about resuming his clozapine medication and has poor insight into his symptoms and the need for anti-psychotic medication.含羞草研究社�
The BCRB noted that in September 2023, Gathergood had resumed attending staff-escorted outings 含羞草研究社渁nd during the year completed 54 such outings without concern.含羞草研究社�
During the hearing, Gathergood agreed to answer questions. According to the BCRB, he said he was disappointed by the hearing as he 含羞草研究社渉oped to be approved unescorted access to the community.含羞草研究社� He also said he does not need medication and would prefer not to take it.
Asked about the 含羞草研究社淣ew World Order,含羞草研究社� Gathergood advised it was like 含羞草研究社淢asonry.含羞草研究社�
含羞草研究社淢r. Gathergood said that if he talked about it, he would be in danger,含羞草研究社� reads the disposition. 含羞草研究社淲hen asked about the danger he said that any 含羞草研究社楳ason含羞草研究社� could take a contract to kill him and he would have no way of knowing who might kill him. Thus, his statement to Dr. Stingu-Baxter that he hoped he would not have to kill again.含羞草研究社�
Gathergood called Parmenter a 含羞草研究社渉igh-ranking Mason含羞草研究社� and said he had to kill him to avoid Parmenter 含羞草研究社渙rdering him to be killed.含羞草研究社�
During Gathergood含羞草研究社檚, testimony in court touched on the relationship between the two men, that Parmenter had been something of a father figure to Gathergood over the years.
The court also heard that Gathergood thought Parmenter blamed him for the Parmenters含羞草研究社� move from their home in Silver Creek.
The BCRB said it was concerned by Gathergood含羞草研究社檚 statements to Stingu-Baxter and at the review hearing.
含羞草研究社淚n such circumstances we find that Mr. Gathergood would not hesitate to kill whoever he believed threatened him,含羞草研究社� reads the disposition.
Asked if the board should be concerned about Gathergood含羞草研究社檚 含羞草研究社渃ontinuing ability to access the community under escort,含羞草研究社� Stingu-Baxter reassured the panel he would not have access until his 含羞草研究社渃lozapine levels returned to therapeutic levels and his mental state was stable.含羞草研究社�
The BCRB ordered that Gathergood be detained in custody, noting 含羞草研究社渟hould his conditions improve dramatically, he may seek an early review to determine if he should be granted unescorted access to the community.含羞草研究社�
含羞草研究社淗owever, there is no evidence that this is likely in the next 12 months,含羞草研究社� concluded the BCRB.
