The Ontario Review Board (ORB) has made a controversial decision regarding Victor Avidago, a 62-year-old man found not criminally responsible for the 2011 stabbing death of his wife. Avidago, who has a history of paranoid schizophrenia, voluntarily returned to hospital this spring after re-experiencing psychotic symptoms.
At his annual hearing in January, the ORB declared Avidago no longer poses a significant threat to the public and should be granted an absolute discharge. However, one board member dissented from this decision, citing concerns that Avidago continues to pose a danger and should remain conditionally discharged.
Avidago's case dates back to March 22, 2011, when he stabbed his wife, Maria Rosaria Avidago, 46 times in their Mississauga kitchen. Their 13-year-old daughter was home sick from school that day and begged him to stop, but he continued to attack his wife. Neighbours reported hearing the mother's screams for help, and Peel Regional Police arrived to find Avidago holding a knife and demanding that they shoot him.
Avidago was found not criminally responsible in 2013 due to his paranoid schizophrenia at the time. He was initially held in a secure unit at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) but later progressed to supportive housing and eventually independent housing. However, his stable mental health began to decline in late 2023 after he stopped taking his medication due to COVID-19-related pneumonia.
Avidago's family members found knives hidden around his apartment in February 2024, leading to his hospitalization. He has since improved with anti-psychotic medication and returned to living in his apartment under the care of his psychiatrist and monitoring by the Forensic Outpatient Services. However, an increase in his psychotic symptoms in January 2026 led to his admission to CAMH as a voluntary patient.
The ORB's decision to grant Avidago an absolute discharge has raised concerns among some board members. One dissenting member warned that Avidago's history of stopping his medication and the unknown effects of his newly increased dosage make it too soon to know his ongoing mental stability. Despite this, the ORB chose to ignore her advice and grant Avidago an absolute discharge.
