Former St. Joseph Mercy Hospital clerk on bail for allegedly stealing over $600,000

A former clerk of the St. Joseph Mercy Hospital located at Parade Street, Kingston, Georgetown, is now on bail after she was charged with stealing more than $600,000 from her former workplace.

Toni Parris, 24, of Lot 13 Norton Street, Worthmanville, Georgetown, appeared before Principal Magistrate Faith McGusty today (Friday, April 11, 2025) at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Courts, where she was arraigned for larceny by a clerk or servant.

It is alleged that on November 27, 2024, Parris stole $643,060 from the hospital while employed as a clerk. She pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Her attorney, in a bid for bail, told the court that Parris is a single mother of two young children, ages four and five, and that she is now earning a living as a hairdresser after being let go by the hospital in December 2004.

The lawyer stated that her client followed proper procedures on the day in question, placing all funds into the designated vault, as per hospital protocol. Additionally, the defense pointed out that the area where Parris worked was under surveillance and insisted that she poses no flight risk.

However, the prosecution opposed bail, emphasizing the serious nature of the allegation. The prosecutor mentioned that according to information from the hospital, some 16 patients had conducted business on the day in question, but Parris failed to submit a required financial report.

They claimed that although a security camera was reportedly positioned at her workstation, it was not operational at the time of the incident.

After listening to both sides, Magistrate McGusty granted Parris bail in the sum of $75,000 and adjourned the matter to May 9 for continuation.