'Serial Pooper' Strikes Southern Illinois University

CARBONDALE, IL — Students at Southern Illinois University say a "serial pooper" has struck at least eight times in a university laundry room, leaving a foul surprise for students doing their laundry in Abbott Hall. The incidents have left traumatized students terrified to wash their clothes.

The Daily Egyptian reported that a "bowel movement bandit" was on the loose, "prowling the lower level laundry room in Abbott Hall, leaving several residents to find fecal matter on clothes they left in washing machines."

Sophomore Khiyah Ransom said she first heard about the pooper several weeks ago. In each case, the feces has been found after students' clothing has gone through a complete wash cycle. Ransom said school maintenance cleaned the machine only after the first incident, though it's happened at least eight times — including twice during the 2016-17 school year. In each case, the serial pooper has left waste in the washing machine's rubber seal.

“I was really upset about it, but I was like, I’m just wondering who’s doing this pooping," Ransom told the Daily Egyptian, adding that she's now terrified to watch her clothes in Abbott Hall. "I don't think it's really funny," she said.

AP Photo/Elaine Thompson