A former employee of Truist Bank in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, is suing the company after claiming she was tormented at work, not by another co-worker exactly, but by a Chucky doll. Yes, that Chucky, the murderous toy from the iconic 1988 slasher flick Child’s Play.
According to court documents filed on May 21 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina, Debra Jones says her manager placed a Chucky doll in her office chair during her final week of new hire training in June 2024, despite knowing that she had a legitimate fear of dolls. Let’s be real, some people have clown phobias, some fear spiders, and some are terrified of creepy plastic dolls with killer instincts. That last one’s apparently very real for Debra, per People.
Jones had only started her job with Truist Bank in April 2024, and in her complaint, she claims that her employer was fully aware of her diagnosed medical conditions, which included major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and the autoimmune disorder vitiligo. According to her, the incident wasn’t just a harmless prank; it worsened her mental health, interfered with her training, and ultimately landed her on medical leave for eight weeks.
Her reaction to the Chucky doll was apparently no laughing matter, though the manager who placed the doll allegedly did laugh after seeing her response. Following the incident, Jones was reportedly treated by a medical provider and later diagnosed with PTSD.
North Carolina Woman With Fear Of Dolls Tormented By Chucky At Place Of Employment
After returning to work in August 2024, Jones was given a new manager and an accommodation to leave work early three times a week to receive treatment for her autoimmune condition. But things didn’t exactly get easier. She says her new manager made a joke about her being “always fraudulent vigilant” in front of the team after she discovered a fraudulent check, a comment she found offensive and inappropriate, especially given her existing struggles with anxiety.
The complaint goes on to describe a string of further issues, including Jones being treated more harshly for mistakes than other employees and being subjected to retaliation and discrimination based on her disabilities.
In January 2025, things hit another low when yet another Truist manager allegedly told her that her schedule accommodations were affecting other employees and that the job “might not be a good fit” for her. The kicker? The manager allegedly told her to stop using her “emotional and anxiety problems” as an excuse, warning that she’d be fired if her performance didn’t improve.
Following that meeting, Jones says she suffered panic attacks and was once again taken out of work for treatment. By March 2025, she was told to come and retrieve her personal belongings. That was the end of her time with Truist and the beginning of her lawsuit.
Jones is now seeking compensatory damages for what she describes as emotional pain, mental anguish, and lost wages. Her lawsuit accuses Truist of discrimination, retaliation, and treating her unfairly because of her disabilities.
Seeking Compensation For Mental Anguish and Emotional Pain
This isn’t just about a creepy doll prank gone wrong, it’s about the ripple effect a single incident can have on someone who’s already navigating serious health challenges. For Jones, the doll wasn’t just Chucky. It symbolized a workplace culture that she claims ignored her boundaries, disrespected her medical needs, and ultimately drove her out.
Whether the court sides with the North Carolina woman remains to be seen, but one thing’s for sure: horror movies should stay in theaters, not HR departments.
Joshua Dale 
Sofia Bassett 
