WHITBY — The Ontario Review Board (ORB) has ruled that Daniel Pestill, the man found not criminally responsible (NCR) for the 2022 murder of Oshawa cab driver Michael Ryan, must remain under escort whenever he leaves the Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences.
Pestill, 39, was declared NCR in August 2024 after psychiatrists testified he was suffering from schizophrenia at the time he fatally shot Ryan, accusing the driver of being part of the “illuminati.” He was later arrested with a firearm, more than 250 grams of drugs, and $20,000 in cash. While NCR spared him a traditional murder sentence, Justice Howard Leibovich took the rare step of designating Pestill a high-risk offender, requiring the ORB to determine strict conditions for his detention.
Although recent reports say Pestill has engaged in treatment programs and accepted medication, the board concluded he remains a significant danger to public safety. It emphasized that Ontario Shores is an unsecured facility across from a large residential neighborhood, making unescorted access too great a risk.
Ryan’s sister, Anne Marie Cannata, said the family remains focused on accountability and public safety. “My brother was a kind, loving man whose life was stolen,” she said. “We hope this case and many others like it prompt reflection on whether current laws truly protect innocent families.”
Under the decision, Pestill may only step outside hospital buildings under staff escort and with a structured supervision plan.