Matthew Charles Lamb: Canada’s First Spree Killer
ONTARIO
A two-part series.
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.
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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.
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-547.0-555.45Interview transcript, Steve Smith, author of The Psychopath Machine
https://archive.is/E4xeGDarcy 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 Lawsuithttps://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
