Brianna Brochu, an 18-year-old former student at the University of Hartford, has been charged with criminal mischief and breach of peace. While a freshman at the university, Brochu bragged on social media about contaminating her roomate’s belongings in the hopes of getting rid of her.
According to the Washington Post, Brochu “allegedly wrote on Instagram that she finally ‘got rid of her roommate,’ whom she referred to as ‘Jamaican Barbie.'”
“After 1½ month of spitting in her coconut oil, putting moldy clam dip in her lotions, rubbing used tampons [on] her backpack, putting her toothbrush places where the sun doesn’t shine, and so much more, I can finally say goodbye Jamaican Barbie,'” the post read, according to court records. Brochu, who is white, also faces hate crime charges since her actions seem to have been racially motivated. The victim in this incident, Chennel Rowe, is black.
Rowe discussed the ordeal on Facebook Live, mentioning that she had been experiencing throat pain for months, but didn’t know why. A nurse told her that she had bacteria present in her throat. Rowe now believes that she was experiencing these symptoms because of Brochu’s tampering with her personal belongings.
In a letter issued this week, University of Hartford President Greg Woodward said that Brochu is no longer a student at the school. When officials learned of the incident, they took action and notified campus authorities.
Brochu was arrested last Saturday and appeared in court on Wednesday. The judge in the case has ordered her to not have any contact with Rowe. She is also banned from the University of Hartford campus.
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