Police are seeking a third charge of intimidation based on bigotry or bias, a second-degree felony.
A Connecticut college student has been charged after she allegedly bragged about putting her ex-roommate’s toothbrush “where the sun doesn’t shine” on social media and putting moldy clam dip in her lotion, among other dirty deeds.
Brianna Brochu, 18, a freshman at the University of Hartford, was charged this week with second-degree breach of peace and third-degree criminal mischief, both misdemeanors, after her previous roommate, Chennel Rowe, was alerted to what Brochu said by people who saw Brochu’s Instagram post about the alleged crimes.
In a post that has since been deleted from Brochu’s Instagram, the 18-year-old reportedly wrote:
“After one and a half months 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 to Jamaican Barbie.”
Brochu is white and Rowe is of Jamaican descent.
West Hartford police said Wednesday that they will request an added charge of intimidation based on bigotry or bias, a second-degree felony.
Rowe took to Facebook on Monday and described the harrowing details of Brochu's misdeeds.
In a video that has since gone viral, Rowe spoke on how she suffered severe sore throat pain as a result of Brochu's alleged actions.
“While I’ve been here, I’ve been getting sick. Not knowing why, I’ve been getting sick. It started with throat pain. I thought maybe because it’s colder up here, I’m just probably catching a cold,” Rowe said in the video. “This was happening for about a month. It got to the point where I had extreme throat pain where I couldn’t sleep, to the point where I couldn’t speak.”
Rowe said doctors at the school’s medical center could not figure out what was wrong but said “some type of bad bacteria” was causing her pain and prescribed her antibiotics.
Rowe said she eventually moved from the room after attempts to get along with Brochu did not work.
"I basically felt like I was unwanted,” she said. “I felt like I was a ghost in my own room.”
When Rowe moved out, a neighbor notified her of Brochu’s social media posts. The posts included pictures of bloodstains on Ms. Rowe’s backpack and videos of Ms. Rowe eating, with comments suggesting the utensils she was using had been contaminated, The New York Times reported.
Police were called to the university on Oct. 18. Officers issued a warrant for Brochu's arrest on Oct. 26. She was released on $1,000 bail two days later.
“It’s the fact that I didn’t know all of this was happening and it’s the fact that she’s been posting it on her Instagram,” Rowe said. “If only I knew. I just want to know the ‘so much more.’ I want to know all the posts.”
Rowe also claimed that officials at the University of Hartford did not want to address the matter initially.
“As a young African American woman I don’t want to become another statistic. When it comes to college incidents/crimes and racial cases, justice needs to be served,” Rowe wrote. “I’m not holding my tongue any longer about my situation because this is just ridiculous to hear nothing back from my school about this situation.”
The school has since released a statement saying that Brochu is no longer a student at the University and will not be returning.
“I am writing to you this evening to send a strong message regarding an incident that is deeply upsetting to me, our students, faculty, staff and alumni. One of our students was the alleged victim of bullying and her story was shared across social media,” University of Hartford President Greg Woodward said in a statement.
“Let me be clear: the accused student’s behavior was reprehensible and does not reflect the values of our institution. Let me also be clear that I am confident the university has taken all steps to pursue this matter seriously, and will continue to do so.”
Neither Rowe nor Brochu immediately responded to requests for comment by InsideEdition.com.
