University student poisons roommate and is dubbed 'flatmate from hell'
A US University student has admitted to licking her roommate's dining utensils and secretly smearing bodily fluids on her backpack in a 'deeply disturbing' case of alleged bullying that exploded on social media and saw hate crime charges filed on Wednesday.
Chennel 'Jazzy' Rowe, a first year student at the University of Hartford in Connecticut, posted a 103-minute Facebook Live video on Monday about her 'roommate nightmare'.
The New York Post reports that Ms Rowe felt 'unwanted in [her] own room' since being randomly assigned to bunk with Brianna Rae Brochu in late August.
A few weeks after moving in, Ms Rowe said she started getting ill, including throat pains that ultimately led her to see a doctor.
After requesting a room change Ms Rowe began moving her belongings, when another student approached her who had found 'very concerning posts' on Brochu's Instagram.
One of the posts, which has since been deleted, appeared to confirm her suspicions - Brochu had been covertly harassing her and tampering with her personal items.
Police reports obtained by the Hartford Courant newspaper recalls one of the posts saying, 'After 11/2 months of spitting in her coconut oil, putting mouldy clam dip in her lotions, rubbing used tampons [on] her backpack, putting her toothbrush where the sun don't shine and so much more I can finally say goodbye to Jamaican Barbie.'
Brochu, who has been arrested, has admitted to licking Ms Rowe's plate, fork and spoon, as well as smearing her own bodily fluid on Ms Rowe's backpack, but denied other actions she referenced in the Instagram post. She reportedly told the police that those statements were lies and a way to 'appear funny' online.
Ms Rowe’s video prompted a nationwide response on social media, with many users posting in support of Rowe and calling for #JusticeforJazzy.
University President Greg Woodward also addressed the 'accusations of racism' raised by Ms Rowe and others in connection with the incident.
'Acts of racism, bias, bullying, or other abusive behaviours will not be tolerated on this campus,' Mr Woodward said. 'I pledge to do everything in my power to work with our community to address related concerns together.'
A judge ordered Brochu to stay off the University of Hartford’s campus during a brief court appearance on Wednesday, the Hartford Courant reports.
This article originally appeared on New Idea.
