Morgantown, West Virginia — A former hospital physician is wanted by authorities after investigators alleged he secretly placed hidden recording devices inside employee restrooms at a West Virginia hospital, leading to a criminal investigation that has since expanded to include additional allegations involving AI-generated explicit images.
Police have issued an arrest warrant for Lance Parks, who previously worked at J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown.
According to investigators, the case began after hospital employees discovered a concealed recording device inside a staff-only restroom late last month.
Hidden Cameras Allegedly Found in Staff Bathrooms
Authorities said hospital employees found the first recording device on June 26, hidden beneath a sink inside a staff restroom.
Following an investigation, police alleged that Parks had placed the device there.
According to the Monongalia County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, investigators reviewed the device and determined it contained video recordings of eight hospital employees who were unknowingly filmed while partially nude.
Just four days later, hospital staff reportedly discovered a second concealed recording device inside a toilet in another nonpublic employee restroom while responding to a clogged plumbing issue.
The discoveries prompted investigators to broaden the scope of the case.
Search of Home Leads to Additional Allegations
Police later executed a search warrant at Parks’ residence, where investigators seized multiple computers and other digital devices for examination.
During that search, authorities said they located files containing images of juvenile females that appeared to have been downloaded from social media and photo-sharing websites.
Investigators further alleged that some of those photographs had been digitally altered using artificial intelligence to make the individuals appear fully nude.
“Investigators located numerous computer-generated images in which artificial intelligence had been used to manipulate the original photographs so that the depicted juveniles appeared to be fully nude,” police said in a news release.
Authorities have not publicly disclosed how many alleged victims may be involved or whether additional charges could follow.
Hospital and Prosecutors Working to Notify Victims
Officials said investigators, the Monongalia County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, and Ruby Memorial Hospital are working together to notify employees believed to have been affected.
The allegations have shocked many within the local community.
“It’s a shame when a physician who’s entrusted for the public good to abuse their power and manipulate the situation for their own selfish needs,” said Bart Mazer, who was visiting a patient at Ruby Memorial Hospital.
Hospital Calls Incident ‘Traumatic and Disturbing’
Parks currently faces charges including criminal invasion of privacy and distribution and exhibiting computer-generated child pornography, according to investigators.
Authorities emphasized that the investigation remains active, and additional evidence continues to be reviewed.
In a statement released on behalf of West Virginia University Hospitals, Ruby Memorial Hospital described the allegations as deeply troubling.
“The actions of one ill-intended individual will not drive us off that course, nor do they define the work of the thousands of employees who come to work every day in support of the people who entrust us with their care.”
Hospital officials also stated they remain committed to maintaining a safe workplace for employees while cooperating fully with law enforcement throughout the ongoing investigation.
The allegations outlined by investigators have not been proven in court. Lance Parks is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty through the legal process.
What are your thoughts on this case? Should hospitals implement additional security measures to help prevent hidden-camera incidents in employee-only areas? Share your thoughts respectfully in the comments below.
