Son was in the midst of psychosis when he fatally stabbed mother: doctor
Devon Ambrose stabbed his parents, killing his mom, inside their Hamilton Mountain home in the midst of psychosis that doctors say was brought on by undiagnosed multiple sclerosis.
Dr. Joseph Ferencz, an expert in forensic psychiatry, told a Hamilton court Friday that it is uncommon, but not rare, for the neurological disorder to cause psychiatric conditions, including psychosis. He examined Devon at St. Joseph's West 5th campus, where the 30-year-old remains.
Superior Court Justice Paul Sweeny found him not criminally responsible (NCR) because of a mental disorder for the second-degree murder of his mom, Catharine Ambrose, the aggravated assault of his dad, Peter Ambrose, two counts of assaulting police and resisting arrest.
It was a joint position, agreed by both the defence and the Crown. The decision means he will stay in hospital until the Ontario Review Board decides if he can safely be released.
It is a tragic case" in which Devon was not aware of what he was doing, nor was he capable of understanding it was wrong, Sweeny found.
Court heard that even months after the stabbings, Devon still didn't believe his mother was dead. It was unfathomable to him that he could have harmed the person who had been his biggest supporter. He called her his best friend.
When 63-year-old Peter woke early on the morning of Nov. 13, 2020, to drive a school bus, he was surprised to see Devon up and pacing, assistant Crown attorney Andrew McLean said, reading from an agreed statement of facts. Devon had been acting different" in the weeks before, including pacing, muttering to himself and appearing paranoid. He wasn't sleeping.
When Peter arrived home around noon Devon was still pacing. Catharine was on the phone with her daughter-in-law. She had also called his family doctor the night before, describing Devon as seeming like he had Alzheimer's - he forgot one of his brother's had died in a car crash in 2014.
On the phone with her daughter-in-law, she asked whether they should they take Devon to hospital? Could it be schizophrenia? Hearing this Devon became enraged," McLean said. He threw a chair at his dad and punched him and then punched his mom in the face.
Catharine grabbed a knife block from the kitchen, but Devon grabbed it from her hands and pulled out a knife. He stabbed his dad and then pushed him out the door.
Peter had keys, but in the 15 seconds it took him to unlock the door, Devon had turned the knife on his mom, stabbing her multiple times. She was yelling for help. When the door opened Devon had a knife to her neck, McLean said.
When police arrived, he initially seemed to co-operate, but then grabbed the knife and charged. One officer fired her gun three times, but missed. The other tried a Taser, but that also didn't work. Devon dropped the knife and ran. The officers followed, ordering him to get to the ground. Again, he initially seemed to comply, but then got up and dragged the two officers. A third officer arrived and this time the Taser worked and Devon was arrested.
Catharine died in hospital. She had several, deep wounds to the torso. Peter required stitches and staples for injuries to his hand, arm and torso, including a punctured kidney.
Devon doesn't remember most of what happened, but accepts it did happen, said his lawyer Beth Bromberg.
She called his diagnosis a good news, bad news situation," because he and the family have an explanation, which may offer a small comfort. But Devon is also very ill."
Ferencz, the psychiatrist, said Devon started showing symptoms of psychosis in the summer. They gradually got worse. He thought people were watching him, that neighbours were trying to hurt him. Eventually his paranoia grew to question whether his parents were actually his parents. He asked if they were doppelgangers. In the days before the attack, he asked his mother if she was associated with organized crime.
On Sept. 11 he had an MRI that showed brain abnormalities. He was referred to an MS clinic for further evaluation. But that hadn't happened by the day of the murder.
After his arrest Devon was taken to hospital, but then to jail, where he seemed to be hallucinating. He didn't know why he was there, court heard. He thought he was being tortured.
Eventually the psychiatrist at the hospital began treating him with antidepressant and antipsychotic medication. By the time he was transferred in January into the care of doctors at St. Joe's forensic psychiatric unit, Ferencz said he was doing much better.
The psychiatric team contacted a neurologist who ordered a second MRI. This showed his condition had worsened. The MS diagnosis was confirmed. Devon was treated with daily infusions of steroids and his psychiatric medication halted. He's doing better, but there is a lot of uncertainty about how his condition will affect him in the future.
Both the defence and the Crown commended the family, which includes a surviving brother and a sister, who have forgiven Devon and shown a lot of compassion. Throughout their grief, they have supported him.
The family has suffered a terrible tragedy," Bromberg said. But I also see strength."
Nicole O'Reilly is a Hamilton-based reporter covering crime and justice for The Spectator. Reach her via email: noreilly@thespec.com