Calgary stabbing suspect Matthew de Grood's texts being investigated

Calgary police are looking into the text messages Matthew de Grood sent before five people were stabbed to death at a low-key gathering celebrating the end of university classes.

De Grood has been charged with five counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of Lawrence Hong, 27, Joshua Hunter, 23, Kaitlin Perras, 23, Zackariah Rathwell, 21, and ​Jordan Segura, 22.

Two of the five victims lived at the house, the Calgary police’s Kevin Brookwell said Thursday afternoon.

Brookwell said de Grood knew at least one person at the party who was a family friend whom the 22-year-old had known for a long time.

"I don’t know if everybody knew everybody, but in regard to the accused, he knew one person very well," Brookwell said.

Brookwell said any messages de Grood sent or received electronically will likely come out in court.

"What communications he had, what devices he used, is a significant part of that investigation right now," he said.

"What he said and what the content was, I don’t want to get into that right now."

Brookwell said it’s not known exactly how soon after de Grood arrived at the party the attacks began and whether he stopped anywhere between work and the party.

"He didn’t show up at the party and start stabbing. How much time he spent mingling, I don’t know that exactly."

When asked how someone could stab five people to death without being stopped, Brookwell said police hope to be able to answer that question in time.

"Everyone is trying to get this answer for how this could possibly happen, and did nobody intervene?" said Brookwell.

“You don’t know how you may react, and it is quite possible that people didn’t know it was going on or people froze. We know the result, and we hope to get the answers about how it happened and when it happened."

Brookwell said police are not aware of any drugs at the party, and again noted that "it wasn't an out of control party."

He did say that they are awaiting toxicology results.

Autopsies are still being performed, but police say it's been confirmed the deaths were the result of stabbing.

Thursday afternoon was also the first time that police officially announced the names and ages of the victims.

De Grood's lawyer says the 22-year-old is overwhelmed but understands the charges he's facing.

Defence lawyer Allan Fay told CBC’s Calgary Eyeopener that his client, who is being held at a secure psychiatric facility adjacent to the Calgary Remand Centre, is lucid.

“We had a conversation. I'm not trained in that area but I didn't see anything that caused me undue alarm," said Fay.

"Having said that, he's quite overwhelmed, extremely fearful and distraught.

"And I think that affects his reactions and that sort of thing. But, from my discussions, I'm fully confident that he is aware of the magnitude of what's going on here."

Fay refused to comment about speculation by others regarding de Grood's mental health.

Calgary police Chief Rick Hanson told CBC News on Wednesday he expects the accused will be ordered by the court to undergo a psychological assessment — a common occurrence in high-profile homicide cases.

But Fay said it’s his understanding there have been no past indications of mental-health problems with de Grood.

“I’m not aware of any history of mental illness on Matthew’s part,” he said.

Fay said he is trying to arrange for de Grood’s parents to visit him.

De Grood’s father, a veteran member of the Calgary Police Service, is very distraught over the killings his son is accused of committing, Fay said.

“He, better than most people, understands what can happen from here,” Fay said.

De Grood’s father is still with the force on active duty.

The family read a statement at 3 p.m. MT Thursday.

Fay said he expects the case against his client will proceed very slowly, beginning with a lengthy preliminary inquiry, followed by jury selection and finally a trial in the Court of Queen’s Bench.

“I would be surprised if it’s not years,” he said.

Fay said at this point he has not even spoken with his client about the allegations, only procedural matters.

Investigators with the forensic crime scene unit are continuing to collect evidence at the scene of the killings on Butler Crescent in northwest Calgary — work that could continue until at least Saturday, police said.

Brookwell said there are at least 100 people involved in the investigation, which is going on 24 hours a day.

De Grood is expected to be held in custody until he appears in court next Tuesday.