Son of Teenage Head guitarist Gord Lewis had a history of mental health issues before murder charge

Warning: This story contains offensive language.

Before Jonathan Lewis was charged in the death of his father — Teenage Head guitarist Gord Lewis — he was convicted of harassment, had a history of messaging people around the city and, according to his lawyer, lived with mental health issues.

Gord, the 65-year-old guitarist of the renowned Hamilton punk rock band, was found dead on Aug. 7 in his apartment.

Police confirmed the next day Jonathan, 41, had been charged with second-degree murder. 

While the charge hasn't been tested in court, it has prompted people who saw Jonathan struggle with his mental health to reflect on whether he needed more support or intervention.

Larissa Fedak, Jonathan's lawyer, said the situation is tragic, but there are still many questions about how Gord died.

"Everyone's jumping to certain conclusions and that's unusual," she said. "Maybe because of the status of his father or simply because he was kind of known in our community … he's innocent until proven guilty."

Brian Lewis, one of Gord's brothers, declined to comment, but previously said the family was "devastated and conflicted" because "it's the loss of a beloved brother and a very complicated situation."

Numerous studies, including a 2013 study from the American Public Health Association, indicate people with diagnosed mental disorders rarely commit violent acts.

In Jonathan's case, he was known to have sent insulting and seemingly threatening emails and social media messages to people, many in Hamilton, over a series of at least eight years.

A chain of incoherent emails from accounts with the name Jonathan Lewis were sent to numerous media outlets on Aug. 7 and led someone to approach the police.

"Funeral people need to get here quick. My Dad is starting to decay," read part of the email on Aug. 7, which CBC Hamilton staff also received. 

It wasn't the first time behaviour linked to Jonathan has led to calls to police. 

CBC Hamilton news staff filed a police report around 2019, after Jonathan sent emails perceived to be threatening to a former reporter. He had also visited the newsroom looking for that reporter, banging aggressively on the front windows. No charges were laid.