Re: Amy L. Parsons
ORB File No: 7564
Hearing held on: Tuesday, April 22, 2025
Place of hearing: Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences 700 Gordon Street, Whitby
Pursuant to: Section 672.81(1) of the Criminal Code
Before:
Alternate Chairperson: Ms. L. Silver Members: Dr. R. Wood Hill Dr. G. Stones Mr. D. D’Intino Mr. J. Cyr
Parties Appearing:
Accused: Amy L. Parsons Counsel: Mr. N. Gehl
The person in charge of hospital: Counsel: Ms. A. Marshall
Attorney General of Ontario: Counsel: Mr. T. Hewitt
REASONS FOR DISPOSITION
(Dated May 12, 2025)
Introduction
On June 6, 2019, Amy Parsons was found not criminally responsible on charges of aggravated assault and assaulting a police officer, contrary to the Criminal Code of Canada. She is currently subject to a disposition of the Ontario Review Board (the “Board”) dated November 6, 2023, which detains her within the Forensic Program at the Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences (the “Hospital”) with discretionary privileges, including the ability to reside in the community in approved accommodation.
On April 22, 2025, the Board convened for the annual review of Ms. Parsons’s disposition. Ms. Parsons was present and represented by her counsel, Mr. Gehl.
Position of the Parties
- At the outset of the proceedings, the parties were canvassed regarding their respective positions on the two issues before the Board:
i) Whether Ms. Parsons continues to pose a significant threat to the safety of the public, and
ii) If so, what disposition is necessary and appropriate, having regard to the criteria outlined in s. 672.54 of the Criminal Code of Canada.
- Ms. Marshall, on behalf of the Hospital, submitted that Ms. Parsons no longer meets the threshold of posing a significant threat to public safety and that the treatment team recommends she be granted an absolute discharge. Mr. Hewitt, on behalf of the Ministry of the Attorney General, reserved his position until he heard the evidence. Mr. Gehl, counsel for Ms. Parsons, concurred with the Hospital’s position. After hearing the evidence, Mr. Hewitt was also satisfied that an absolute discharge was warranted. Accordingly, a joint submission was presented to the Board.
Findings
- For the reasons that follow, the Board unanimously finds that Ms. Parsons no longer represents a significant threat to the safety of the public. The necessary and appropriate disposition, as jointly recommended by the parties, is an absolute discharge.
The Index Offences
On January 9, 2019, Ms. Parsons was residing with her aunt, Trudy Parsons, and Ms. Parsons’s common-law spouse, Donald Greer, in Grand Valley, Ontario. Shortly after 10 a.m., Mr. Greer was seated in a chair playing solitaire on his computer. Ms. Parsons entered the room unclothed and holding a 12” kitchen knife. She proceeded to stab Mr. Greer while pinning him in the chair with her knee and body. Mr. Greer called out to his wife, who intervened and was ultimately able to gain control of the knife. Ms. Parsons then exited the home unclothed and was later found sitting in the snow, covered in blood, under a highway bridge near the Grand River. Police observed a minor neck wound and a six-inch abdominal laceration. Mr. Greer sustained an eight-inch laceration to his left arm, as well as injuries to his chest and both thumbs. Ms. Parsons told a firefighter, “I thought they were going to gas me.”
Ms. Parsons was transported to the hospital in the custody of Police Constable Moggy. In the early morning hours, she attempted to flee past two nurses. When P.C. Moggy intervened, Ms. Parsons struck him multiple times with her fists and kicked him in the head before being restrained on the hospital bed.
Background
The Hospital Report dated November 4, 2024 (Exhibit 1) provides a detailed account of Ms. Parsons’ history and background. It was made an exhibit and need not be repeated here in detail. An Addendum to the Hospital Report dated April 10, 2025, was also filed as Exhibit 2.
Ms. Parsons is a 42-year-old woman, born in Edmonton, and is the third of four siblings. The Hospital Report outlines a difficult and chaotic upbringing. She was placed in foster care from the age of three to seven due to her mother’s substance abuse. Later, she moved to Orangeville to live with her father, returning to British Columbia at age 11 to live with her mother. She rarely attended school and was hospitalized following an accidental overdose. The Children’s Aid Society became involved, and she was returned to Ontario to reside with her aunt.
Ms. Parsons left school in grade 11 after becoming pregnant. Her mother died of a drug overdose in 2013, after which Ms. Parsons’ drug use significantly escalated, leading to homelessness. Over the following five years, she engaged in heavy substance use and lost temporary custody of her daughter on multiple occasions. In 2017, she intentionally overdosed on fentanyl outside a hospital. She returned to live with her aunt, Trudy, in April 2018.
Ms. Parsons has a criminal record spanning from 2008 to 2017, including multiple convictions for assault and failing to comply with court orders.
Ms. Parsons has a long-standing history of significant substance use, beginning at age 13. Substances included cocaine, methamphetamine, fentanyl, cannabis, benzodiazepines, and alcohol. She ceased using substances during her pregnancy but relapsed shortly thereafter, using crack cocaine daily while living in Toronto’s shelter system.
There were brief periods when Ms. Parsons was relatively stable and temporarily regained custody of her daughter.
Ms. Parsons’ first psychiatric admission occurred in the summer of 2016 at Kingston General Hospital. She reported auditory and visual hallucinations and was observed to be paranoid, agitated, and aggressive, requiring locked seclusion. Her discharge diagnosis was psychosis not otherwise specified.
Between 2016 and 2019, Ms. Parsons presented at various hospitals across British Columbia, Ontario, and New Brunswick with similar symptoms, often in the context of substance use.
Following the NCR finding, Ms. Parsons resided at Ontario Shores and transitioned through several units over a period of three years. During this time, she continued to struggle with substance use, including while hospitalized.
Current Diagnoses
- Current Diagnoses:
- Other specified schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorder
- Substance Use Disorders – Severe
- Alcohol – in sustained remission in a controlled environment
- Stimulants (Methamphetamine and Cocaine) – in sustained remission in a controlled environment
- Opioids – in sustained remission in a controlled environment
- Rule Out Benzodiazepines
- Borderline Personality Disorder
Course Since the Last Disposition
Ms. Parsons’ annual hearing was rescheduled from November 2024 to April 22, 2025, allowing the treatment team additional time for observation.
Ms. Parson resides independently within the Transitional Rehabilitative Housing Program (TRHP), operated by the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA). She maintains regular contact with Ontario Shores Forensic Outpatient Services (FOS).
In November 2024, Ms. Parsons underwent surgery for an abdominal hernia, followed by emergency surgery in December due to complications. She has since been recovering at home and attending regular wound care appointments.
Despite the challenges during this period, Ms. Parsons managed well. Although prescribed opioids for post-operative pain, she declined their use, instead giving the medication to her FOS clinician, citing adverse reactions to opioids.
Ms. Parsons has not returned to work due to her recovery from surgery, but she receives ODSP support and financial assistance from her family. She is exploring remote employment opportunities. She continues to maintain a close, supportive relationship with her daughter and two grandchildren, who visited her for two weeks recently.
During this period, Ms. Parsons’ uncle, Donald Greer, passed away. Due to a no-contact order, she has not responded to messages from her aunt, Trudy, though she reports no conflict or animosity exists between them.
Ms. Parsons’ primary risk factors for re-offending include her psychotic illness, substance use history, borderline personality traits, history of violence, including the index offence, and previous noncompliance with treatment.
Nonetheless, Ms. Parsons has remained psychiatrically stable during the current reporting period, and her condition is considered to be in remission.
Ms. Parsons is considered capable of making informed treatment decisions. She has remained compliant with her monthly long-acting injectable medication, and her urine toxicology screens consistently return negative results, aside from occasional positives early in the reporting period.
She has established ongoing care with Valley View Clinic, which has confirmed its willingness to prescribe her psychiatric medication if she is granted an absolute discharge. The CMHA injection clinic will continue administering her medication.
Ms. Parsons has further strengthened her relationship with her daughter and her grandchildren.
Analysis and Conclusion
In last year’s disposition, it was noted that support for an absolute discharge would require Ms. Parsons to maintain stable housing and employment, engage with her treatment team, adhere to her medication regimen, and remain abstinent from substances.
Ms. Parsons has achieved all of these objectives, except employment, which was hindered by her recent surgeries.
Despite significant medical challenges and the associated stress, she remained stable in the community and continues to be motivated to sustain her progress.
Despite a long history of substance use, Ms. Parsons has maintained abstinence from illicit substances, and her insight in this regard is well-developed. She is internally motivated to stay abstinent and appreciates the harmful effects of substances. Her psychotic illness is in remission.
She continues to work cooperatively with her treatment team and has demonstrated consistent compliance with her treatment plan.
Ms. Parsons has strengthened her relationships with her daughter and grandchildren and has been a positive support in their lives.
If granted an absolute discharge, Dr. Bhullar emphasized that Ms. Parsons will have continued support from the Valley View Clinic and CMHA and will continue to receive her monthly depot antipsychotic injections.
The treatment team has concluded, and the Board accepts, that Ms. Parsons no longer poses a significant threat to the safety of the public. Accordingly, the Board is obligated to grant her an absolute discharge.
Disposition
The Board accepts the joint submission that the necessary and appropriate disposition is an absolute discharge.
In reaching this conclusion, the Board has considered the factors set out in s. 672.54 of the Criminal Code of Canada, including the paramount consideration of public safety, the mental condition of the accused, her reintegration into society, and her other needs. The Board is satisfied that Ms. Parsons is not a significant threat to public safety and is therefore entitled to an absolute discharge.
The panel congratulates Ms. Parsons on reaching this significant milestone and extends its best wishes for her continued success.
DATED this 12th day of May 2025, at the City of Toronto, in the Region of Toronto.
Ms. L. Silver Alternate Chairperson
Office of the Registrar Ontario Review Board