Matthew Charles Lamb: Canada’s First Spree Killer
ONTARIO
[Part 1 of 2]
The unbelievable story of 18-year-old Matthew Charles Lamb, who grabbed his uncle’s shotgun and took to the streets of Windsor, Ontario in 1966. What happened next involves the infamous Oak Ridge Experiment at Penetanguishene, a global mercenary career cut short, and one heartbroken author’s quest for truth.
The intention of this episode is to take a look back at a shocking crime in the context of a very different era of Canadian history.
This month, Canadian True Crime has donated to the Canadian Resource Centre for Victims of Crime, who offer support, research and education to survivors, victims and their families.
[ Part 2 of 2]
The shocking conclusion to the story of 18-year-old Matthew Charles Lamb, the infamous Oak Ridge Experiment at Penetanguishene and one heartbroken author’s quest for truth.
Recommended Resources:
Watching the Devil Dance: How a Spree killer Slipped through the Cracks of the Criminal Justice System 2020, Will Toffan
F-Ward: Oak Ridge Mental Hospital documentary,1971, Director Heinz Avigdor
Credits:
Research and Writing: Lisa Gabriele
Script Consultant: Carol Weinberg
Audio Editor, Voice of Disclaimer: Erik Krosby
Senior Producer: Lindsay Eldridge
Researcher, Writer, Narrator, Sound Design: Kristi Lee
Theme songs: We Talk of Dreams
All other music from Epidemic Sound and Blue Dot Sessions
Sources
Lamb’s Crimes Before Spree
February 10, 1964 (page 5 of 28). (1964, Feb 10). Windsor Star (1959-2010) Lamb, 16, charged. Retrieved from https://ezp.windsorpubliclibrary.com:4048/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/historical-newspapers/february-10-1964-page-5-28/docview/2239562646/se-2
February 27, 1964 (page 5 of 48). (1964, Feb 27). Windsor Star (1959-2010) Lamb, 16, in court. Retrieved from https://ezp.windsorpubliclibrary.com:4048/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/historical-newspapers/february-27-1964-page-5-48/docview/2239519236/se-2
December 30, 1964 (page 5 of 32). (1964, Dec 30). Windsor Star (1959-2010) Gun count now facing youth, 16. Retrieved from https://ezp.windsorpubliclibrary.com:4048/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/historical-newspapers/december-30-1964-page-5-32/docview/2239458243/se-2
January 14, 1965 (page 5 of 51). (1965, Jan 14). Windsor Star (1959-2010) Youth given two years for gunfight. Retrieved from https://ezp.windsorpubliclibrary.com:4048/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/historical-newspapers/january-14-1965-page-5-51/docview/2239605138/se-2
The Spree
June 27, 1966 (page 1 of 38). (1966, Jun 27). Windsor Star (1959-2010) Charge Youth Ambush Slayer Retrieved from https://ezp.windsorpubliclibrary.com:4048/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/historical-newspapers/june-27-1966-page-1-38/docview/2239558441/se-2
US Press
"Shotgun Barrage Kills One And Wounds Three". The Washington Reporter. Washington, Pennsylvania: The Observer Publishing Company. 27 June 1966. p. 22. Retrieved 4 December 2011.
June 28, 1966 (page 3 of 54). (1966, Jun 28). Windsor Star (1959-2010) Suspect lived near death site. Retrieved from https://ezp.windsorpubliclibrary.com:4048/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/historical-newspapers/june-28-1966-page-3-54/docview/2239479000/se-2
June 29, 1966 (page 5 of 50). (1966, Jun 29). Windsor Star (1959-2010) 3 victims in fair condition. Retrieved from https://ezp.windsorpubliclibrary.com:4048/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/historical-newspapers/june-29-1966-page-5-50/docview/2239556472/se-2
June 30, 1966 (page 5 of 60). (1966, Jun 30). Windsor Star (1959-2010) Lamb held for mental tests. Retrieved from https://ezp.windsorpubliclibrary.com:4048/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/historical-newspapers/june-30-1966-page-5-60/docview/2239562217/se-2
July 12, 1966 (page 3 of 32). (1966, Jul 12). Windsor Star (1959-2010) “Second Gunshot victim dies after 17 days). Retrieved from https://ezp.windsorpubliclibrary.com:4048/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/historical-newspapers/july-12-1966-page-3-32/docview/2239490643/se-2
PreTrial
October 6, 1966 (page 3 of 64). (1966, Oct 06). Windsor Star (1959-2010) Murder hearing opens. Retrieved from https://ezp.windsorpubliclibrary.com:4048/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/historical-newspapers/october-6-1966-page-3-64/docview/2239575049/se-2
October 7, 1966 (page 3 of 48). (1966, Oct 07). Windsor Star (1959-2010) Brother of murdered girl. Retrieved from https://ezp.windsorpubliclibrary.com:4048/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/historical-newspapers/october-7-1966-page-3-48/docview/2239460686/se-2
October 8, 1966 (page 3 of 107). (1966, Oct 08). Windsor Star (1959-2010) Death probe to continue. Retrieved from https://ezp.windsorpubliclibrary.com:4048/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/historical-newspapers/october-8-1966-page-3-107/docview/2239582632/se-2
October 15, 1966 (page 3 of 109). (1966, Oct 15). Windsor Star (1959-2010) Prelim hearing: Lamb calm at arrest. Retrieved from https://ezp.windsorpubliclibrary.com:4048/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/historical-newspapers/october-15-1966-page-3-109/docview/2239574633/se-2
Trial
January 12, 1967 (page 5 of 54). (1967, Jan 12). Windsor Star (1959-2010) Murder trial set Monday. Retrieved from https://ezp.windsorpubliclibrary.com:4048/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/historical-newspapers/january-12-1967-page-5-54/docview/2239624985/se-2
January 16, 1967 (page 5 of 32). (1967, Jan 16). Windsor Star (1959-2010) Insanity plea. Retrieved from https://ezp.windsorpubliclibrary.com:4048/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/historical-newspapers/january-16-1967-page-5-32/docview/2239624756/se-2
January 17, 1967 (page 3 of 38). (1967, Jan 17). Windsor Star (1959-2010) Second day of trial, confession to uncle. Retrieved from https://ezp.windsorpubliclibrary.com:4048/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/historical-newspapers/january-17-1967-page-3-38/docview/2239537459/se-2
January 18, 1967 (page 3 of 54). (1967, Jan 18). Windsor Star (1959-2010) Lamb disturbed. Retrieved from https://ezp.windsorpubliclibrary.com:4048/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/historical-newspapers/january-18-1967-page-3-54/docview/2239611600/se-2
January 19, 1967 (page 3 of 54). (1967, Jan 19). Windsor Star (1959-2010) Lamb told story of shootings. Retrieved from https://ezp.windsorpubliclibrary.com:4048/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/historical-newspapers/january-19-1967-page-3-54/docview/2239469861/se-2
January 20, 1967 (page 3 of 42). (1967, Jan 20). Windsor Star (1959-2010) Arguments end in Lamb trial. Retrieved from https://ezp.windsorpubliclibrary.com:4048/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/historical-newspapers/january-20-1967-page-3-42/docview/2239568381/se-2
January 21, 1967 (page 3 of 74). (1967, Jan 21). Windsor Star (1959-2010) Lamb ruled insane. Retrieved from https://ezp.windsorpubliclibrary.com:4048/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/historical-newspapers/january-21-1967-page-3-74/docview/2239580466/se-2
January 25, 1967 (page 29 of 60). (1967, Jan 25). Windsor Star (1959-2010) About a man going insane… Retrieved from (300 at Oak Ridge) https://ezp.windsorpubliclibrary.com:4048/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/historical-newspapers/january-25-1967-page-29-60/docview/2239568180/se
Oak Ridge
Treatment Of Torture At Oak Ridge (2021). . Toronto: Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved from https://ezp.windsorpubliclibrary.com:4048/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/other-sources/treatment-torture-at-oak-ridge/docview/2496969739/se-2
Remember Oak Ridge Digital Archive
https://archive.is/mDyF1#selection-547.0-555.45
Interview transcript, Steve Smith, author of The Psychopath Machine
https://archive.is/E4xeG
Darcy Henton, T. S. (1989, May 08). Oak ridge's 'rooms' like cages for people: [FIN edition]. Toronto Star. Retrieved from https://ezp.windsorpubliclibrary.com:4048/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/newspapers/oak-ridges-rooms-like-cages-people/docview/435945770/se-2
Killed in Rhodesia
November 9, 1976 (page 1 of 84). (1976, Nov 09). Windsor Star (1959-2010) Ex Windsor man slain. Retrieved from https://ezp.windsorpubliclibrary.com:4048/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/historical-newspapers/november-9-1976-page-1-84/docview/2243270237/se-2
November 11, 1976 (page 3 of 68). (1976, Nov 11). Windsor Star (1959-2010) Flashback on a mean kid.. Retrieved from https://ezp.windsorpubliclibrary.com:4048/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/historical-newspapers/november-11-1976-page-3-68/docview/2243623022/se-2
Supreme Court Declines to Reopen Lawsuit
https://www.barrietoday.com/local-news/historic-day-supreme-court-wont-examine-oak-ridge-abuse-lawsuit-6792214
CBC News Interactive on Dr. Elliot Barker
https://newsinteractives.cbc.ca/longform/oak-ridge-st-thomas-psychiatric-treatment/
Videos
CBC- Bad Trip
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-FbXDuiINY
CBC’s 5th Estate: The Secret’s of Oak Ridge
https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/268471...
CBC’s 5th Estate: Treatment or Torture
https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/186878...
F Ward Documentary
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6OBy-9s_p0
The Total Encounter Capsule (sagepub.com) 1977, by Elliott T. Barker, M.D. and Alan J McLaughlin, L.Th, Canadian Psychiatric Association Journal, Vol. 22, No. 7
The Psychopath Test: A Journey Through the Madness Industry, 2012, Jon Ronson
Oak Ridge court processes and appeals
https://www.orilliamatters.com/local-news/suggested-payout-for-former-oak-ridge-patients-perverse-obscene-lawyer-says-3199264
https://www.collingwoodtoday.ca/local-news/historic-day-supreme-court-wont-examine-oak-ridge-abuse-lawsuit-6793291
