Victor Avidago, 62, who was found not criminally responsible for the 2011 stabbing death of his wife Maria Rosario Avidago, has been granted an absolute discharge by the Ontario Review Board, even though he was hospitalized for psychotic symptoms just weeks before the hearing.
Background of the Case
On March 22, 2011, Avidago stabbed his wife 46 times in the kitchen of their Mississauga home while their 13-year-old daughter, who was home sick from school, begged him to stop. Neighbours heard the 43-year-old dental hygienist screaming, “Help me. He is killing me. Please help me.” When Peel Regional Police arrived, Avidago kept them at bay with a knife for 10 minutes, demanding, “Shoot me.”
Charged with second-degree murder, Avidago was found not criminally responsible in 2013 due to paranoid schizophrenia. He was initially held in the secure unit at CAMH but progressed to supportive housing in 2019 and independent housing in 2021 after his mental health improved with anti-psychotic medication.
Recent Decline and Hospitalization
Avidago’s mental health began to decline at the end of 2023 when he stopped taking his medication after contracting COVID-related pneumonia. In February 2024, his daughter alerted his case manager that family members had found knives hidden around his apartment. He was brought to CAMH by police and later transferred to Mount Sinai Hospital’s inpatient psychiatry unit.
After resuming medication, Avidago improved and returned to his apartment under outpatient supervision. However, in January 2026, he reported increased psychotic symptoms. On May 5, 2026, after not leaving his apartment for days due to paranoia, he was admitted to CAMH voluntarily under the Mental Health Act.
ORB Decision and Dissent
At his annual hearing in June 2026, while still hospitalized, the Ontario Review Board ruled that Avidago no longer poses a significant threat to the public and granted an absolute discharge. One dissenting board member disagreed, noting that Avidago’s history of stopping medication when he dislikes side effects and the recent adjustment of his dosage create too many unknowns.
“When paranoid, as we have seen in the index offence, his violence can be lethal or it can be quietly demonstrated through the hiding of knives at his apartment as in 2024,” the dissenting member warned. “In the view of the minority, there are too many unknowns regarding the ongoing mental stability of Mr. Avidago to grant an Absolute Discharge.”
The majority, however, accepted the recommendation of Avidago’s psychiatrist, who testified that Avidago demonstrated insight into his illness and a readiness to seek hospital care if needed.
Public Safety Concerns
The decision has sparked outrage, with critics questioning why the board would grant an absolute discharge to someone still struggling with mental health issues. Avidago remains a voluntary patient at CAMH, and his medication is being adjusted. The dissenting board member emphasized that erring on the side of caution is essential for public safety.
