A woman was arrested Tuesday in Biloxi, Mississippi, after authorities allege she pushed razor blades into loaves of bread at two Walmart locations. The suspect, Camille Benson, 33, from Texas, is charged with attempted mayhem and is held on a $100,000 bond.
Arrest and Charges
Police detained Benson at the Biloxi Police Department on Tuesday morning after receiving reports of the tampered loaves. The arrest came after a series of complaints from customers who found the blades in their purchases. According to Biloxi Police Department records, the incident was reported to law enforcement on Monday, and the department was notified the following day. The arrest was made at the county jail, where Benson is now held pending further proceedings.
Timeline of Complaints
Walmart employees first reported a razor blade in a loaf purchased from the Walmart Supercenter on December 5. Three days later, on December 8, another shopper bought a loaf at the Walmart Neighborhood Market and also discovered a blade. After a third complaint was made to the Supercenter on Sunday, store personnel inspected the inventory and uncovered additional loaves that had been tampered with. The police were notified the following Monday, and the department began an investigation into the source of the blades.
Walmart’s Response
Walmart issued a press release stating that it has removed and thoroughly inspected all potentially affected products at the impacted Biloxi stores. The company emphasized that customer safety remains a top priority, adding, “The health and safety of our customers is always a top priority,” Walmart said in a statement. It also thanked law enforcement for their swift action and pledged to continue cooperating with investigators. Walmart urged customers who purchased bread from the affected locations to inspect their loaves and report any findings.
Police Investigation
Lt. Candace Young, a public information officer for the Biloxi Police Department, confirmed that customers had reported finding razor blades at both the Walmart Supercenter and the Walmart Neighborhood Market. The department has not identified any other Walmart locations as targets and believes the incident is isolated to the two Biloxi stores. Police have asked anyone who bought bread from the affected locations to check their loaves for any signs of tampering and to report their findings to law enforcement.
Legal Implications
Attempted mayhem is defined as an act that is intended to cause serious bodily injury to another person. Under Mississippi law, the offense carries a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. The suspect, Camille Benson, 33, from Texas, faces a charge of attempted mayhem. Her bond has been set at $100,000, a figure that reflects the severity of the alleged crime and the potential danger to the public.
Consumer Guidance
If customers purchase a product that has been tampered with, they should immediately throw it out and visit their local Walmart for a full refund, the company said. Walmart has also set up a dedicated hotline for customers to report suspicious items and to receive instructions on how to handle contaminated products. The company urged shoppers to keep receipts and to contact the store manager if they notice any abnormalities in packaged goods.
Summary
From the first complaint on December 5 to the arrest on Tuesday, the timeline shows how quickly the issue moved from customer discovery to law-enforcement action. Walmart employees who first noticed a razor blade in a loaf reported the finding to the store manager, who then alerted the police. After a third complaint on Sunday, the employees inspected the remaining inventory and found additional tampered loaves. The Biloxi Police Department was notified the following Monday and began an investigation. The department has not identified any other Walmart locations as targets.
Benson, a 33-year-old Texas resident, was charged with attempted mayhem, a felony that can carry up to 20 years in prison and a $10,000 fine under Mississippi law. Her bond has been set at $100,000, reflecting the seriousness of the charge and the potential risk to public safety. The court has not yet scheduled a hearing, and no attorney appears on the jail’s public records. A message left for a possible relative of Benson was not immediately returned, and no legal counsel has been confirmed.
Walmart’s response included removing all potentially affected products from the Biloxi stores, conducting a thorough inspection, and issuing a statement that customer safety is a top priority. The company thanked law enforcement for swift action and pledged continued cooperation with investigators. Customers who purchased bread from the affected locations are advised to inspect their loaves, discard any that show signs of tampering, keep receipts, and seek a full refund by visiting a local Walmart. A dedicated hotline has been set up for reporting suspicious items.
The investigation remains active as authorities work to uncover the full extent of the tampering and identify the responsible individual.
Key Takeaways
- Camille Benson, 33, arrested for attempting mayhem; bond set at $100,000.
- Razor blades found in loaves at a Walmart Supercenter (Dec. 5) and a Walmart Neighborhood Market (Dec. 8).
- Walmart removed and inspected all affected products and urged customers to discard tampered items and seek refunds.
The incident underscores the importance of vigilance and swift action by retailers and law enforcement to protect consumers from food tampering threats.
