The man charged in a fatal stabbing at the Edmonton Corn Maze earlier this week had previously been found not criminally responsible for violent crimes and confined to a psychiatric hospital, court documents show.
Michael George Ferzli, 41, was charged with second-degree murder after Joseph Farnsworth, 53, was killed at the popular attraction on Tuesday.
Emergency crews were called about a stabbing at the corn maze at 7 p.m.
Ferzli was arrested at the scene.
Police said the victim and the assailant were guests at the corn maze and knew each other.
Sources confirm to CTV News that both men were connected to Alberta Hospital.
According to court documents, Ferzli has schizophrenia and has experienced “psychotic symptoms.”
He has been involuntarily confined to hospital on multiple occasions since 2008 because of his mental state, including a 2020 order that made him an in-patient at Alberta Hospital for a 12-month period after he was found not criminally responsible in an assault case.
A court appearance has been scheduled for Sept. 4 in connection with Farnsworth’s death.