Re: Anthony Parker
ORB File No: 8480
Hearing held on: Monday, June 9, 2025
Place of hearing: Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care
Pursuant to: Section 672.81(1) of the Criminal Code
Before:
Alternate Chairperson: Mr. J. Weinstein
Members: Dr. K. Hand
Dr. G. Nexhipi
Ms. M. Chamberlain
Ms. B. Little
Parties Appearing:
Accused: Anthony Parker
Counsel: Mr. A. Shivari
The person in charge of hospital: Counsel: Ms. J. Lefebvre
Attorney General of Ontario: Counsel: Ms. S. Curry
REASONS FOR DISPOSITION
(Dated August 14, 2025)
Introduction:
On December 15, 2023, Mr. Anthony Parker was found not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder, on charges of threat to cause death or harm (x2), criminal harassment (x2) and intimidation, all contrary to the Criminal Code of Canada (the “Criminal Code”).
Mr. Parker is subject to the terms of a Disposition of the Ontario Review Board (the “Board”), dated April 16, 2024, which orders that he be detained at the High Security Program/High Secure Provincial Forensic Program of the Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care (“Waypoint”). This Disposition only permits Mr. Parker to attend within, or outside of, the hospital for necessary medical, dental, legal, or compassionate purposes.
On June 9, 2025, the Board convened a hearing at Waypoint to conduct the annual review of the current Disposition.
Mr. Parker was present at the hearing and was represented by his counsel, Mr. A. Shivari.
A Hospital Report (the "Hospital Report"), dated May 1, 2025, was entered as Exhibit 2. A Victim Impact Statement, dated February 26, 2024, was entered as Exhibit 3. An Addendum to the Hospital Report (the “Addendum”), dated June 24, 2025, was entered as Exhibit 4.
Counsel for Mr. Parker had submitted a Rule 13 request for a transfer to Brockville Mental Health Centre (“Brockville”). The responses from Brockville, dated May 7 and June 4, 2025, were entered as Exhibits 1 and 5. In it, Brockville advised that, after having carefully reviewed the supporting documents, they do not believe that Mr. Parker would be suitable for their facility.
The first issue at this hearing is whether Mr. Parker is a significant threat to public safety, as defined in s. 672.5401 of the Criminal Code. If so, the necessary and appropriate Disposition in the circumstances must be determined, bearing in mind the factors enunciated in s. 672.54 of the Criminal Code. The second issue is the Rule 13 request by counsel for Mr. Parker to be transferred to Brockville.
For the reasons set out below and based on the expert evidence and opinions before it, the Board concluded that Mr. Parker continues to represent a significant threat to the safety of the public. The Board further ordered that he continue to be detained at Waypoint with an amendment to permit Mr. Parker to access hospital grounds, beyond the secure perimeter, escorted by staff. The Board further found that it would not be appropriate to transfer Mr. Parker to Brockville and concluded that this Detention Order is the necessary and appropriate Disposition in the circumstances.
Current Psychiatric Diagnoses:
- Unspecified Schizophrenia Spectrum
Antisocial Personality Disorder
Polysubstance Use Disorder, in remission in a controlled environment
Index Offences:
- The circumstances giving rise to the Index Offences are extracted from last year’s Board Reasons, as follows:
“The accused, Mr. Anthony PARKER, is a federal inmate currently incarcerated at the Regional Treatment Centre within the walls of Millhaven Institution located at 5775 Bath Rd, Bath, Ontario.
In 2020 Mr. PARKER was incarcerated within Bath Institution, located on the same property as Millhaven Institution. Mr. Parker was the recipient of psychotherapeutic intervention while residing at Bath Institution by J. N., Psychologist, for approximately two years. J.N. made the decision to terminate service in response to his inappropriate attachment and an increased risk to her safety. Consequently, Mr. Parker was involuntarily emergency transferred to Warkworth institution on the 4th of September 2020.
On the 29th of October 2020 J. N. received a letter addressed to her at Bath Institution. There were actually two letters in one. The first one was four pages. It was addressed to "my dearest rapist". The letter centers on him expressing his anger toward. J.N. for playing a role in the termination of their relationship and her contributing to his feelings of abandonment. The words he used to describe his feelings were full of antagonism. The second letter started on page 5 and was addressed to "Dear E. ! or L. I forgot". It goes on to give instruction that he realizes his letter will be noticed so the first part, the four pages he tells her to hand in to correctional staff but to keep the second letter for herself. Throughout the second letter, he raises her up by discussing positive attributes, and then suddenly becomes demeaning. He states he would sacrifice anything for her love. “I would do anything for a chance with you.” “Give up a finger just to sleep with you once.”
In early 2021 Mr. PARKER tattooed his entire face. On his forehead he tattooed "HIV+" there is a tattooed line from his eye to the tattooed heart on his nose then down to the word "J. N." beside his mouth. There are numerous other small doodles all over his face of unknown significance.
In October of 2020 Mr. PARKER placed his profile on the "Inmate Connects" site and was contacted by a "Pen Pal" with an address in British Columbia. Mr. PARKER believed this person to be J. N. contacting him through a third party. He continued to correspond with this third party believing he was corresponding with J. N. up until the present. In March of 2022 the third party contacted the Correctional Service of Canada to report the content of the letters. He believed that the letters were intended for him and as such was in fear for his personal safety. The letters are numerous and lengthy each letter contains statements and themes of sexual violence and infliction of grievous harm and death.
When questioned about these letters Mr. PARKER has stated that he and J. N. are engaged and that he intends on seeing her when he is released on his Statutory Release which up until now was supposed to be April 11 2022. The following are comments made in letters written in March of 2022. “Consummate our union in everlasting nuptial… but of course a nuptial bed must be drenched in blood. For God, yes, for God we die by love, and yes transcend Romeo and Juliet’s sepulcher with more glory then the resurrection in the garden on cavalry. We will degrade her for four months at which point you can fuck her pussy with a serrated knife until she dies if you please. Share with you the rules of engagement for our sexuality while I’m on parole. Until the first time I feed you ¾ cup of blood… Ceremony should happen by the end of April” “I’ll make you wet and murder you like the Bloody Mary.”
Consequently Mr. PARKER has been charged with two counts of Uttering Threats contrary to section 264.1(1)(a) of the Criminal Code and one count of Criminal Harassment contrary to section 264(2)(b) of the Criminal Code of Canada."
Course Since Last Disposition:
- Mr. Parker’s course since his last Disposition is set out in detail in the Hospital Report. The relevant parts are summarized as follows:
“Mr. Parker was admitted to the Forensic Assessment Program (FAP) on May 1, 2024. Dr. B. Komer is his most responsible physician. At the Pre-Board Conference, Mr. Parker was awaiting transfer to the Beausoleil program. It is noteworthy that Beausoleil contains this hospital’s least structured programs.
In June 2024, Mr. Parker achieved the maximum security level, a C5, permitting up to four hours of independent off-unit access and assumed the position of ward worker.
Since September 2024, Mr. Parker has become more challenging and discordant with the staff about hospital policies and procedures. In this context, he displays ongoing difficulty following directions, particularly when the direction comes from female staff.
Mr. Parker has not engaged in physical assaults or violence. Mr. Parker’s threats of harm and death (our emphasis added) directed at his family, his unusual religious interests, and internet searches of the female victim of his index offence are most concerning.
While in the computer lab on October 10, 2024, Mr. Parker searched for “Kingston Psychology Today” and “top female psychologists Kingston” and inquired about printing photos obtained online. On October 21, Mr. Parker provided links to an image of the victim of the Index Offence ( our wording), along with religious and satanic images, and tarot cards for printing.
On November 4, 2024, a case conference was held to discuss Mr. Parker’s recent presentation, request for a photo of his victim, and violent religious ideations, including discussions of “human sacrifice” and “bloodletting”. The recreation therapist also noted that Mr. Parker’s choice of music contains themes of bondage and torture. Mr. Parker’s increase in behavioural outbursts and unwillingness to discuss his mental state with the clinical team was also concerning. A Crisis Prevention Plan was developed to assist the staff in managing the increased risk he was presenting.
Mr. Parker has not engaged in violence while at Waypoint. To the contrary, a co-patient struck Mr. Parker in the face with his headphones and spat on him over a dispute involving the television in December 2024. Mr. Parker remained calm and did not retaliate.
Despite not engaging in violence at Waypoint, Mr. Parker began making threats to his family in January 2025. On January 21, 2025, Mr. Parker was overheard on the phone angrily yelling, “I'm going to kill her when I get out of here”.
{Mr. Parker’s sister,} Isabella reported that Mr. Parker previously threatened her without acting upon these threats, therefore, she is not personally fearful of him. She did indicate that she has concerns about the safety of others. She reported that her brother has “rape fantasies” and she fears he will “rape and kill someone” (Social Work Pre-Board Conference Report). Isabella also reported that while Mr. Parker has been at Waypoint, he has commented on Ms. Neil, the victim of his index offense, that he will “kill her” and believes she is “sleeping with a black person in Cornwall”.
On February 14, 2025, Mr. Parker again attempted an online search of the victim of his index offence while in the computer lab.
On May 5, 2025, Mr. Parker was transferred to the Beausoleil program.
Following Mr. Parker’s threats to his family in January 2025, as noted earlier in this report, his mother requested that Mr. Parker not contact her. She indicated that she is open to communication in the future and wants him to receive the help he needs. She still intends to assist with the purchase of a television for Mr. Parker. Mr. Parker accepted his mother’s request for no contact without the need for restrictions being placed on his telephone usage. Mr. Parker’s sister, Isabella, has also stopped communicating with her brother at this time.
Mr. Parker identifies as Metis and meets with the Indigenous Healer whenever possible and typically on a bi-weekly basis. Mr. Parker wanted to learn about Wicca and telephone contact was made with a local person, and virtual visits with the Wicca Church in Canada, located at the Toronto Temple, were arranged.
Mr. Parker has also participated in smudging ceremonies and prayers, and received grief support with the passing of his grandmother. A sweat lodge ceremony is scheduled on June 2, 2025, and Mr. Parker is expected to attend.”
Position of the Parties
Counsel for the hospital recommended a continuation of a Detention Order at Waypoint, with the additional privilege of access to hospital grounds, beyond the secure perimeter, escorted by staff. The hospital did not support a transfer to Brockville.
Counsel for the Attorney General joined the hospital in the recommendations.
Counsel for Mr. Parker advised that significant threat was not in dispute for the purposes of this hearing and agreed that a Detention Order was the necessary and appropriate Disposition. Counsel requested that Mr. Parker be transferred to Brockville, in accordance with his Rule 13 request.
Evidence at the Hearing
- The Board had available to it the evidence and documents forming the Record, the Exhibits, and oral evidence from Dr. Komer. Dr. Komer is Mr. Parker’s treating psychiatrist and co-authored the Hospital Report. He testified as follows:
a) He has read, and adopted, the contents of the Hospital Report. The only update he had to the Addendum was an incident this past Friday, June 6; Mr. Parker was reported to have said that it was “cool to be a serial killer,” during an interaction with staff members. When confronted, Mr. Parker initially denied this interaction; ten seconds later, he claimed that he had just been joking.
b) He could not explain why Mr. Parker’s behaviour changed, in November 2024, when he began challenging hospital policies and procedures.
c) Mr. Parker gave several explanations for his search for a photograph of the victim of the Index Offences: he wanted the picture for his room; he wanted it to pray for forgiveness; and he wanted to give it to his spiritual advisor, so that they could burn it in a culturally appropriate ceremony.
d) He agreed that Mr. Parker’s computer searches and behaviours with pen pals, as set out in the Hospital Report, does inform his opinion that Mr. Parker is a risk to the public safety.
e) Mr. Parker’s conduct, yelling and threatening to kill his family, as set out in the Hospital Report, is concerning. When confronted to discuss these threats, Mr. Parker denied that he threatened to kill his sister, claiming he just threatened to “kick her teeth in.”
f) He does not believe that Mr. Parker needs to be in an all-male facility and that currently his most likely targets would be professional female staff at any facility. He agreed that being at a facility with female patients would broaden the pool of potential victims for Mr. Parker’s delusional beliefs.
g) When Mr. Parker was transferred to his care, he was already on a high dose of Vyvanse, which is not an appropriate medication for his diagnosis. He is going to try to reduce Mr. Parker’s dosage, despite Mr. Parker’s reluctance to accept this change.
h) There are three reasons the hospital is not supporting Mr. Parker’s request to transfer to a less secure facility:
i. Mr. Parker is quite guarded and evasive, and he engages in impression management. While he has not been showing any overt signs of psychosis and denies hearing voices, there are several incidents set out in the Hospital Report that suggest that he has been experiencing auditory hallucinations. His impression management makes it very difficult to know for certain.
ii. Mr. Parker’s PCL-R score of 29 out of 40 suggests a high level of psychopathy, which is associated with a high risk of recidivism.
iii. If Mr. Parker were to engage in substance use, it would pose a real risk of decompensation of his mental state. There would be more opportunity for him to obtain cannabis in a less secure facility.
- In response to questions from counsel for the Attorney General, Dr. Komer testified:
a) Page 32 of the Hospital Report sets out the following diagnostic impression:
“Persistent depressive disorder, with major depressive episodes, currently depressed
Posttraumatic stress disorder, with panic attacks
Social anxiety disorder, by history
Attention deficit disorder by history
Conduct Disorder, Childhood onset
Cluster B personality traits – likely Antisocial and Borderline personality disorders”
b) He has not seen any persistent depressive disorder, but he agrees that Mr. Parker’s cluster B personality traits, likely antisocial and borderline personality disorders, do fit in with his current diagnosis of unspecified schizophrenia spectrum disorder. He believes that Mr. Parker’s delusions, and hallucinations are consistent with a diagnosis of schizophrenia.
c) Mr. Parker is not an accurate reporter of his symptoms or of the reason for his behaviour. For example, he provided several explanations for his possession of a photograph of his victim and for his various pen pal accounts.
d) Mr. Parker’s spiritual advisor gave him the opportunity to burn a picture of the victim of the Index Offences, at the most recent smudging ceremony, and he remained silent and declined to do so.
e) More risk assessments would be helpful.
f) Brockville is closer to where the victim was practising.
g) Mr. Parker is aware that his activities on the computer are being monitored, but he probably does not fully understand the amount of data the hospital can obtain after he logs off of his computer. Mr. Parker was trying to be secretive and not let staff see his online searches while he was conducting them.
h) It is difficult to discern what Mr. Parker’s motivation is for his various pen pal accounts and the people with whom he claims to be in contact. As indicated earlier, he is extremely guarded and evasive.
i) It is currently unclear if Mr. Parker may be suffering an erotomania disorder at this time.
j) It is important to continue to allow Mr. Parker access to the computer, as it gives the treatment team a window into his behaviour and thinking, which they are not getting from interactions with him.
k) It is positive that Mr. Parker is participating in activities, such as going to the gym, as it serves as a distraction from his delusional thoughts and is part of his risk management.
l) Mr. Parker has indicated his wish to engage with a psychotherapist.
- In response to questions from counsel for Mr. Parker, Dr. Komer testified:
a) Mr. Parker met with the Chaplin at Waypoint, as well with his Indigenous Healer, over the last reporting year.
b) Mr. Parker has been taking his medication as prescribed.
c) Mr. Parker may be experiencing psychotic symptoms, as he makes references to hearing voices. However, because of his guardedness and impression management, he often denies these episodes, so it is hard for the treatment team to fully understand his mental state.
d) Mr. Parker has not engaged in any physical aggression towards staff in this reporting period.
e) Mr. Parker does not have any direct contact with his family.
f) Before he would recommend a transfer to a less secure facility, he would have to see Mr. Parker become more transparent with the treatment team and respond to proposed programming.
g) The logical trajectory for Mr. Parker would be to eventually transfer to a less secure facility on a Detention Order and from there progress to a Conditional Discharge.
- In response to questions from the panel, Dr. Komer testified:
a) Mr. Parker’s risk could not be appropriately managed at a less secure facility.
b) Mr. Parker’s diagnoses should state that he suffers from polysubstance abuse, in remission in a controlled environment. and it should be added to the front page of the Hospital Report.
c) While other psychiatrists have diagnosed Mr. Parker with ADHD, he has not seen anything that would suggest that Mr. Parker has problems focusing. Being on Vyvanse could exacerbate Mr. Parker’s psychosis. It would be more appropriate to determine if ADHD is an appropriate diagnosis once he is no longer being treated with that medication.
d) Before he would recommend a transfer to a less secure facility, the following conditions should be met, as set out in the Hospital Report: “He would benefit from psychoeducation about Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders, pharmacotherapy, and medication adherence, as well as building and maintaining healthy relationships. It is recommended he engage in individual psychotherapy to address his characterological vulnerabilities and difficulties with anger and aggression. Broadly speaking, he is most likely to benefit from dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT). DBT targets emotional dysregulation by teaching skills to manage emotional distress and engage more effectively in interpersonal relationships. Such treatment also has the potential to enhance his understanding of his risk for violence.”
- No other evidence was called.
Analysis and Conclusions:
Having heard and considered the entirety of the evidence as well as the submissions from the parties, the Board agrees with the joint submission: Mr. Parker remains a significant threat to the safety of the public.
In Winko, the Supreme Court outlined that, in coming to the conclusion on the issue of significant risk, a Review Board should closely examine a range of evidence, including: the circumstances of the original offence; the past and expected course of the accused’s treatment; the present state of the NCR accused’s medical condition; the NCR accused’s own plans for the future; the support existing for the NCR accused in the community; and most importantly, the recommendations provided by experts who examined the NCR accused. In coming to our conclusion in this matter, the Board relies on the uncontroverted expert evidence of Dr. Komer, in addition to the documentary evidence before us.
Mr. Parker’s PCL-R score suggests a high level of psychopathy, which is associated with a high risk of violent recidivism.
Many historical risk factors on the HCR-20 V3 are present for Mr. Parker. He has a history of violent behaviour, violent attitudes, and antisocial conduct that began at the age of 12 and persisted into adulthood.
In particular, the Board relies on the following paragraphs set out in the Hospital Report:
“In terms of clinical risk factors, Mr. Parker’s presentation over the last year was reviewed. He has superficial insight into his mental illness, need for treatment, and risk for reoffending. He lacks insight into how his characterological vulnerabilities are risk enhancing. He understands that his behaviour at the time of the index offence was due to symptoms of psychosis, but it is his view that this was an isolated occurrence, demonstrating poor insight into the need for ongoing management of risk factors.
Although Mr. Parker did not exhibit overt psychotic symptoms during the assessment, he engaged in significant positive impression management (our emphasis added). Over the past year, he has been guarded around his mental state.
Mr. Parker’s potential for violence is impacted by several risk management factors. He has few personal supports, and historically, he has associated with antisocial peers. His inability to exercise autonomy within a high-secure environment is likely to be experienced as stressful. He repeatedly failed to follow risk management plans in the criminal justice system due to his Antisocial Personality pattern, and it is unlikely we will see a true change in this risk factor this early in the recovery process. Although he reported to me that he intends to remain on psychotropic medication indefinitely, this is inconsistent with statements he made to his treatment team. It is positive that his psychotic symptoms seem to be responsive to psychotropic medication, however. Mr. Parker is focusing his efforts on suppressing his emotional responses to maintain a positive impression, which results in periodic anger outbursts.
Assuming Mr. Parker remains adherent to psychotropic medication, his risk for reoffending remains a concern due to his high psychopathy. Absent the oversight of the ORB, he is likely to engage in antisocial conduct, particularly theft, which is likely to include assaultive behaviour due to his violent attitudes and affective instability. Violence is likely to be in response to provocation and/or part of a plan to obtain something desirable.”
- The only issue remaining in dispute is whether Mr. Parker should be transferred to Brockville. The Hospital Report states the following, under Risk Summary:
“Based on all available information, Mr. Parker’s risk for violent reoffending is considered low in a high secure environment. His risk of reoffending in a secure environment is moderately high. Should Mr. Parker become non-adherent to medication and/or become unwilling to follow risk management plans, his risk of reoffending would increase.”
The Board agrees with the Risk Summary and feels that the evidence is overwhelming that Mr. Parker should not be transferred to a less secure facility. He continues to engage in significant positive impression management. He has engaged in several troubling behaviours, as indicated by his computer searches regarding the victim of the Index Offences and his threats to his family.
The uncontroverted evidence is that the use of substances would cause Mr. Parker to decompensate and become a significant risk to the safety of the public. At a less secure facility, he would have greater access to illicit substances.
There are many steps that the doctor agreed were necessary and appropriate before a transfer would be recommended, as set out in par 18 (d) herein.
In his evidence, Dr. Komer agreed that Vyvanse could exacerbate Mr. Parker’s psychosis. Considering that Mr. Parker is also diagnosed with a polysubstance disorder, the Board agrees it would be appropriate to eliminate Vyvanse from his medication regimen and to closely monitor the effects on his mental state. Once this medication has been removed, revaluation of his psychiatric diagnosis for ADHD would be in order. This panel notes that the hospital report states that in January 2021, Mr. Parker was "Evaluated by Dr. Khalisa after tattooing his entire face. He was very reluctant to explain why he had done the tattoos. Dr. Khalisa suspected that Vyvanse (a prescribed stimulant medication for ADHD) had induced psychosis.
The Board notes that there are still many unknowns with respect to Mr. Parker’s full psychiatric diagnoses and that more fulsome psychiatric assessments are necessary, such an evaluation of his reported diagnosis of ADHD and an evaluation for erotomanic delusions. Doctor Komer agreed appropriate sexual violence risk assessments should also be conducted. These assessments were not necessary for the Board to find that Mr. Parker is a significant threat to the safety of the public, nor that he should remain at Waypoint.
Mr. Parker’s preoccupation with violent themes, including rape and torture, his guardedness, and other concerning behaviours concerning his computer use, necessitate the completion of all the above assessments. They are particularly important given Mr. Parker’s elevated PCL-R score and his pattern of guardedness, evasiveness, impression management and dishonesty.
In consideration of all the evidence, the submissions of the parties and criteria set forth in s. 672.54, the paramount consideration being the safety of the public, in addition to the mental condition of Mr. Parker, his reintegration into society and his other needs, the necessary and appropriate Disposition, is to continue with the Detention Order, with the amendment recommended by the hospital.
DATED this 14th day of August 2025, at the City of Toronto, in the Region of Toronto.
Mr. J. Weinstein
Alternate Chairperson
Office of the Registrar
Ontario Review Board