Deceased/Not Found Canada - Alvin, 66, & Kathy Liknes, 53, Nathan O'Brien, 5, Calgary, 30 Jun 2014 - #14

[OutOfTheDarkness]

He claims that he caused an horrific accident by falling asleep at the wheel, but we already know that's probably not true. Matthey Hartley, age 14, died in an horrific car accident that also claimed the life of his sister. Garland had a breakdown - probably true. He quit university at the beginning of his third year - not true. He was expelled for cheating in the beginning of his third year, he didn't quit. He was aiming for a BSc. If he had a breakdown, it was probably a tantrum for being expelled. There was no car accident in Garland's life, only in his fake identity's life.

Again... how do we know it's "probably" not true? If they farmed at a young age, perhaps it was a farm accident and fell asleep at the wheel of a tractor. Perhaps he even injured himself. There is not enough to go on to discount it so easily.

I know some are thinking he's assuming a version of the past tragedy of the teenager whose identity he used... which is, of course, plausible.

Downplaying the cheating, and creating a whole false history and memory are two different things, however.

... and it all adds to the weirdness, and mystery of this case.

 

[Tinkerbel1]

I have read it more than once that he is considered 'a genius', but I'm just not seeing it; I wonder why/where that came from? He cheated at school.. he was apparently in med school, but so are many others, and I don't think all of them are considered geniuses just for being there? Or is it because he was able to evade LE and live a life under a stolen identity for so long? And also, sounds like he had a couple of nervous break-down type of events.. so where's the genius part?

I have heard him as being described as a genius, of having a genius iq as well. DG could be classified as 'genius' according to his iq (which I haven't had any luck in finding). Being a 'genius' doesn't necessarily mean he has any common sense. I had a brother-in-law and cousin-in-law that were deemed "genius" and neither one of them could drive a car. Their minds seemed to operate as genius for specific areas, but not in others.
:bricks: Unfortunately, being of high intelligence doesn't go hand in hand with integrity or honesty...so the cheating and petty crimes, etc can't necessarily be related to his iq. One is high intelligence level (iq), the other could be a low emotional quotient (eq), or even a manifestation of his ADD. Could be that the combination of everything didn't add up too well...:doh: uh thanks Captain Obvious! lol

 

[Tinkerbel1]

I'm still having difficulty with presuming DG's guilt. Haven't seen enough evidence published for me personally to come to that conclusion, unlike so many of the rest of you. In any case, with violent crimes, doesn't the perp often have a progression in violent behavior? If MH professionals after treating/meeting with DG felt that he had no violent tendencies to worry about, then where did this very violent act come from? I really hope he is not just the family scapegoat.

:ditto::underbus::goodpost: I have been hoping the very same thing. If he is, his life is pretty much ruined, and that would be a terrible shame. Can't undo this damage. IMO, that's why I feel it's so important not to be too hasty to judge...that's not for us to do anyway, that's for the courts.

 

[OutOfTheDarkness]

:ditto::underbus::goodpost: I have been hoping the very same thing. If he is, his life is pretty much ruined, and that would be a terrible shame. Can't undo this damage. IMO, that's why I feel it's so important not to be too hasty to judge...that's not for us to do anyway, that's for the courts.

I would think if someone else came forward and confessed, or the evidence against him is laughable, his life wouldn't be ruined. There would be a lot of opportunity to create a career in advocating for the innocent, or for those with mental disabilities. There are many ways to turn the publicity into something good. With the story he now has to tell, if handled correctly, he'd make a compelling spokesperson.

 

[Tinkerbel1]

In terms of whether his mental health issues will be used in his defence, I think it's possible. I doubt that ADHD qualifies as a temp insanity excuse ... but mental health issues might qualify.

"“The Board is satisfied that there are no reasonable grounds to believe that, if released, you are likely to commit an offence involving violence before the expiration of your sentence, and directs your release.”

However, it did note concerns about his mental health leading to criminal activity in granting Garland’s day parole to a supervised facility in June.

“Concerns regarding mental issues have contributed to the property offences and close monitoring by a psychologist and psychiatrist will be required.”

A second review by the parole board on October 20, 2000 showed Garland’s mental health had stabilized.

“Your mental health is assessed as having stabilized and with close monitoring in the Community Residential Facility and by mental health professionals, you are assessed as a manageable risk.”

http://globalnews.ca/news/1439359/p...ut-person-of-interest-in-missing-family-case/

The mental health issues you've eluded to above are from 14 years ago. Mental illness/disorders whereby there is a chemical imbalance in the brain can be stabilized, but are not curable. They are illnesses that will remain with a person for the remainder of their life. Even if a person is medicated and seen regularly by a Psychiatrist, the main thing that is watched for after stabilization are relapses. Mental illness tends to get worse, and not better as we get older. So being stabilized 14 years ago, and his mental state at that time, have absolutely no relevance whatsoever as to his current state. If he has been untreated, say the past 10 years (give him 4 years of stabilized treatment for parole period which I believe is generous), then chances are he's likely more out of balance brain chemistry-wise than he was before.

We really can't know what his mental state was while he allegedly planned/committed these murders. They have likely escalated. JMO

 

[Lalalacasbah]

I have certainly wondered the same thing. If I was the judge that made that ruling, I would be beside myself!

I can't imagine what the judge in that case must be feeling after that ruling. Sadly, IIRC, judges in Canada have immunity in such lawsuits. They do the best they can with the evidence before them. They can't be held accountable for crimes outside the case they are preceding over.

Yes agreed, it's just happens in 'systems' be it education, hospitals/healthcare or prisons, such big infrastructures so much volume of people to deal with and mistakes and human errors are made, it's the nature of the beast.

In reality I don't think suing would be helpful and as otto said - maybe in the US it would be done, so true lol! I put it out there to be thought provoking... the system can't be blamed for DG's diagnosis or possible misdiagnosis as you can't predict and fully control what human beings will do. It's just sad victims pay the price of something beyond anyone's real control.

 

[otto]

Again... how do we know it's "probably" not true? If they farmed at a young age, perhaps it was a farm accident and fell asleep at the wheel of a tractor. Perhaps he even injured himself. There is not enough to go on to discount it so easily.

I know some are thinking he's assuming a version of the past tragedy of the teenager whose identity he used... which is, of course, plausible.

Downplaying the cheating, and creating a whole false history and memory are two different things, however.

... and it all adds to the weirdness, and mystery of this case.

BBM

Doug Garland moved, at the age of 13/14, to the Airdrie acreage ... farm accident is unlikely. Whatever Garland said about the horrific asleep at the wheel accident in his defence was enough to convince the Judge that it deserved mention in sentencing.

The fact that Garland was expelled at the beginning of his third year in the BSc program at UofA, in about 1982, is significant. There is no record of a car accident with Garland between 1976, when he was sixteen years old, and 1982, when he was expelled. If he had a breakdown, what caused it? Breakdowns don't spontaneously happen, but a breakdown could result in the mass murder if the accused had the perception that the victims had wronged him.

 

[otto]

The mental health issues you've eluded to above are from 14 years ago. Mental illness/disorders whereby there is a chemical imbalance in the brain can be stabilized, but are not curable. They are illnesses that will remain with a person for the remainder of their life. Even if a person is medicated and seen regularly by a Psychiatrist, the main thing that is watched for after stabilization are relapses. Mental illness tends to get worse, and not better as we get older. So being stabilized 14 years ago, and his mental state at that time, have absolutely no relevance whatsoever as to his current state. If he has been untreated, say the past 10 years (give him 4 years of stabilized treatment for parole period which I believe is generous), then chances are he's likely more out of balance brain chemistry-wise than he was before.

We really can't know what his mental state was while he allegedly planned/committed these murders. They have likely escalated. JMO

"The mental health issues you've alluded to above are from 14 years ago ..."

Without continued treatment for the mental health issues/problems that resulted in criminal activities in the past, chances are he was again living outside the law.

 

[Tinkerbel1]

I would think if someone else came forward and confessed, or the evidence against him is laughable, his life wouldn't be ruined. There would be a lot of opportunity to create a career in advocating for the innocent, or for those with mental disabilities. There are many ways to turn the publicity into something good. With the story he now has to tell, if handled correctly, he'd make a compelling spokesperson.

:tyou: :cheers: That would be awesome! Those are great possibilities!

 

[otto]

I would think if someone else came forward and confessed, or the evidence against him is laughable, his life wouldn't be ruined. There would be a lot of opportunity to create a career in advocating for the innocent, or for those with mental disabilities. There are many ways to turn the publicity into something good. With the story he now has to tell, if handled correctly, he'd make a compelling spokesperson.

He doesn't have "mental disabilities", so I don't think he can ride that horse.
He has mental health issues.
He's not disabled, he's nuts.

 

[LoisLane]

DG was caught in his illegal activities that occured years ago. Leading up to now he seems to be clean, as in no documented crimes. My opinion is that DG was still active in various illegal activity and until now he was not compromised. I have a very hard time giving him the benefit that he was living an honest and reformed life until suddenly he is suspected of murdering three people.

 

[Tinkerbel1]

"The mental health issues you've alluded to above are from 14 years ago ..."

Without treatment for problems that resulted in criminal activities in the past, chances are he was again living outside the law.

Yes Chances are very good...but it would also explain how someone who was deemed "not likely to be violent" could in fact, end up as violent. It also means, that his mental health could be in a very precarious state, therefore there could be a possibility of a NCR plea. The point I'm trying to make is that many feel that perhaps he does not have ADD or whatever mental illness/disorder he claims to have. There seems to be a lot of agreement that he has suffered several mental issues in the past, regardless what the outcomes of those issues were. IMO, if he has not been getting treatment (and in truth, even if he has been), it doesn't mean that he was in his right mind when he allegedly undertook to commit this crime. So many variations of mental illness can be comorbid with the one he was assessed with...ADD. There very well could have been a misdiagnosis many years ago as OutofTheDarkness had indicated in one of his posts. Maybe DG is not ADD...or maybe he is not just ADD...perhaps he has something else that was triggered in later life, as is common as we go through hormone changes in our bodies, undue stress, improper perceptions and subsequent erroneous judgement in behavior. At any rate, its obvious that there is some sort of imbalance there so one has to look at all the angles if you're trying to figure out his m/o for committing the murders. Maybe there wasn't a great big, deep dark secret or reason that he may have done this, perhaps he's just sick...and got something stuck in his craw and off he went....I have no idea.

 

[Lalalacasbah]

I have heard him as being described as a genius, of having a genius iq as well. DG could be classified as 'genius' according to his iq (which I haven't had any luck in finding). Being a 'genius' doesn't necessarily mean he has any common sense. I had a brother-in-law and cousin-in-law that were deemed "genius" and neither one of them could drive a car. Their minds seemed to operate as genius for specific areas, but not in others.
:bricks: Unfortunately, being of high intelligence doesn't go hand in hand with integrity or honesty...so the cheating and petty crimes, etc can't necessarily be related to his iq. One is high intelligence level (iq), the other could be a low emotional quotient (eq), or even a manifestation of his ADD. Could be that the combination of everything didn't add up too well...:doh: uh thanks Captain Obvious! lol

That's right Tinkerbel1, I read that too somewhere (will try to find where) that he actually has a genius or high IQ. Even though I've stated on here many times I don't like to give him too much credit, it does sounds like he actually has a high IQ. But as you say, might lack some of the emotional/human aspects needed in healthy, human connections.

I've worked with someone in the past, people called a 'genius' he was a loner/eccentric type science guy, no real social life or friends and he would say the most inappropriate things to people in the workplace and make people so uncomfortable (creepy) that complaints were filed against him. He could probably invent a rocket ship, but people wouldn't get near him with a 10ft pole. I always think of this person, when talking about DG as they seem oddly similar.

 

[OutOfTheDarkness]

BBM

Doug Garland moved, at the age of 13/14, to the Airdrie acreage ... farm accident is unlikely. Whatever Garland said about the horrific asleep at the wheel accident in his defence was enough to convince the Judge that it deserved mention in sentencing.

The fact that Garland was expelled at the beginning of his third year in the BSc program at UofA, in about 1982, is significant. There is no record of a car accident with Garland between 1976, when he was sixteen years old, and 1982, when he was expelled. If he had a breakdown, what caused it? Breakdowns don't spontaneously happen, but a breakdown could result in the mass murder if the accused had the perception that the victims had wronged him.

Are you talking about the employment insurance case? We don't know what he said. Again... it's entirely plausible that he ran over a pet, and found it traumatic. There wouldn't be a record of it.

Depending on the individual, and the illness, something as simple as not getting proper sleep can cause a "breakdown". Each individual has different triggers, has had a different life experience, has different genetics, and places a different priority on stressors in their life. One thing that triggers a Borderline Personality can be laughed off by someone with Bipolar Disorder... there is no magic solution or answer.

It is not an exact science... not even close.

 

[otto]

Yes Chances are very good...but it would also explain how someone who was deemed "not likely to be violent" could in fact, end up as violent. It also means, that his mental health could be in a very precarious state, therefore there could be a possibility of a NCR plea. The point I'm trying to make is that many feel that perhaps he does not have ADD or whatever mental illness/disorder he claims to have. There seems to be a lot of agreement that he has suffered several mental issues in the past, regardless what the outcomes of those issues were. IMO, if he has not been getting treatment (and in truth, even if he has been), it doesn't mean that he was in his right mind when he allegedly undertook to commit this crime. So many variations of mental illness can be comorbid with the one he was assessed with...ADD. There very well could have been a misdiagnosis many years ago as OutofTheDarkness had indicated in one of his posts. Maybe DG is not ADD...or maybe he is not just ADD...perhaps he has something else that was triggered in later life, as is common as we go through hormone changes in our bodies, undue stress, improper perceptions and subsequent erroneous judgement in behavior. At any rate, its obvious that there is some sort of imbalance there so one has to look at all the angles if you're trying to figure out his m/o for committing the murders. Maybe there wasn't a great big, deep dark secret or reason that he may have done this, perhaps he's just sick...and got something stuck in his craw and off he went....I have no idea.

Schizophrenia is triggered later in life: 18-24. Garland is not diagnosed with schizophrenia. Is there any other mental issue that starts in adulthood? I don't think it's obvious that Garland has some sort of "imbalance". In fact, I think he's simply an angry man who saw no alternative to murder after he perceived that he was wronged. I don't think he's sick, I think he's mean, nasty, unpleasant, antisocial, and murderous. I think he could murder a five year old child to eliminate a witness.

 

[Tinkerbel1]

DG was caught in his illegal activities that occured years ago. Leading up to now he seems to be clean, as in no documented crimes. My opinion is that DG was still active in various illegal activity and until now he was not compromised. I have a very hard time giving him the benefit that he was living an honest and reformed life until suddenly he is suspected of murdering three people.

Yes! It sure does seem that he straightened out his life for the past 10 years or so. Maybe the farm kept him peaceful, and unstressed so he was able to live a relatively emotionally and mentally balanced life. There are many people that do turn over a new leaf. Its possible he was receiving the proper medical help for his mental struggles during this "clean" time of his life as well. It's unfortunate, but many people that are stabilized by meds and/or therapy start to feel so normal that they feel they don't need their meds anymore and take themselves off...causing the emergence of the original illness to come surging back with a vengeance. Without knowing more details and information about his mental health care program(s) or illness itself, it's very hard to speculate what happened to cause him to "snap" so to speak. I don't know, again mental illness is a slippery slope. :hanging:

 

[OutOfTheDarkness]

He doesn't have "mental disabilities", so I don't think he can ride that horse.
He has mental health issues.
He's not disabled, he's nuts.

Have you had much experience with the mentally disabled?

 

[LoisLane]

Body pulled from Bow River at Fish Creek Park
CBC News Posted: Aug 30, 2014 5:23 PM MT Last Updated: Aug 30, 2014 5:23 PM MT
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/body-pulled-from-bow-river-at-fish-creek-park-1.2751675

Another take on this developing story...
http://calgary.ctvnews.ca/body-found-in-fish-creek-park-1.1984299

 

[Lalalacasbah]

Does anyone know if we can backtrack Canada's Most Wanted to 1999 when the information about DG was released? I have tried various avenues and have nothing. Where would an archive of this be? In 1999 would the wanted list be broadcasted on a television program or internet?

Found this poster picture, and in the article link it states that tipster saw the poster online: "Authorities found Douglas Garland in 1999, thanks in part to a tipster who contacted police after seeing his picture on an RCMP “most wanted” list online."

http://news.nationalpost.com/2014/0...convicted-drug-trafficker-has-ties-to-family/

 

[Lalalacasbah]

Another take on this developing story...
http://calgary.ctvnews.ca/body-found-in-fish-creek-park-1.1984299

I'll have to look on a map, is this somewhere close to this case do you think?