ATLANTIS, Fla. (CBS12) — A 40-year-old ICU nurse at HCA Florida JFK Hospital in Atlantis has been arrested after allegedly tampering with and stealing controlled substances, including fentanyl, to fuel her addiction.
Leah Ann Parra was arrested following a report from a patient’s mother who witnessed Parra stealing medication on August 23, 2024. According to the Atlantis Police Department (APD), Parra entered a patient’s room under the guise of checking medication levels. The patient’s mother observed Parra using a syringe to remove fentanyl from a vial and replacing it with an unknown liquid.
The mother reported the incident to another ICU nurse, who found puncture holes in the fentanyl vial, indicating tampering. The nurse then alerted hospital administration. Initially, Parra denied the allegations, but upon consenting to a search of her belongings, hospital security found syringes, vials of Lorazepam and Benadryl, along with suspected medications. Parra reportedly admitted to the theft and expressed a desire to get help for her addiction, stating that she intended to report herself to the Florida Board of Nursing.
“We were concerned not only about the theft from the patient’s vial but also that she was stealing from the medication locker,” said Atlantis Police Chief Robert Mangold.
As part of the investigation, Parra voluntarily provided urine and blood samples, which were collected for testing. A pharmacy director at the hospital confirmed that the amounts of medication accounted for did not align with the expected levels, further corroborating the theft.
Parra faces charges of Grand Theft of a Controlled Substance, Possession of a Controlled Substance, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. She has been released on bond.
Chief Mangold added, “While it’s unfortunate, incidents like this are rare at JFK Hospital. Thankfully, they took the necessary steps quickly.”
In response to the situation, HCA Florida JFK Hospital released a statement confirming that they had immediately notified the appropriate authorities, including the DEA, local police, and the state Board of Nursing. The hospital also confirmed that Parra was terminated from her position.
“At HCA Florida JFK Hospital, we have safeguards in place to ensure medications are administered and accounted for properly,” said hospital spokesperson Kathryn Walton. “Once we learned of this incident, we took swift action to notify the relevant authorities.”
The Florida Board of Nursing has yet to provide an update on the status of Parra’s nursing license.
Attempts to reach Parra for comment at her home in Palm Beach Gardens were unsuccessful.
