In Biloxi, Mississippi, authorities have detained Camille Benson, a 33-year-old Texas resident, following a series of alarming incidents at local Walmart stores involving product tampering. The first report of a razor blade discovered in a loaf of bread surfaced on December 5 at the Walmart Supercenter on CT Switzer Sr. Drive. The store's personnel and law enforcement were promptly notified.
Subsequently, on December 8, another razor blade was found by a customer at the Walmart Neighborhood Market on Pass Road. By December 14, additional customer complaints prompted in-store inspections, revealing more bakery items that had been compromised. The pattern of tampering continued with two further complaints on December 15, affecting both Walmart locations in Biloxi.
In response to these unsettling discoveries, Walmart removed the implicated products and initiated thorough inspections to ensure customer safety. A Walmart spokesperson emphasized the company's commitment to health and safety, expressing gratitude for the quick response of law enforcement and promising full cooperation with the ongoing investigation.
Surveillance footage led to the identification of Benson as a person of interest, and with the aid of a public tip, she was apprehended on Tuesday in the 1000 block of Division Street in Biloxi. Facing attempted mayhem charges, Benson is currently held at the Harrison County Adult Detention Center on a $100,000 bond. While her motive remains undisclosed, the deliberate insertion of razor blades—and in one case, a fishing hook—into packaged bakery goods prior to their placement on store shelves suggests premeditation.
Law enforcement officials, together with store personnel, conducted meticulous inventory checks and reviewed surveillance to ascertain the scope of the incidents, which appear to be isolated to the two Biloxi Walmart locations. The potential danger to unsuspecting consumers has been underscored by both Walmart and police, who urge vigilance and rapid reporting of any suspicious items.
Fortunately, there have been no reported injuries, but the events have significantly heightened concerns regarding product safety in high-traffic retail environments. Customers are encouraged to remain vigilant, thoroughly inspect products, and seek refunds for affected items. Walmart has also implemented additional quality control measures at the implicated stores.
The investigation is ongoing, and it is unclear if further charges will be brought against Benson. The incidents have brought to light the broader challenges that retailers face in protecting consumers from potential hazards and the critical role that consumer vigilance plays in ensuring safety.
