Woman makes graduation bomb threat to hide drop-out

A 22-year-old woman is now in big trouble after calling in two bomb threats to Quinnipiac University. And the reason why Danielle Shea says she did it is equally as bizarre.


​WFSB reports "Police found Shea inside the TD Banks Sports Center with the other graduates. They say she was even wearing a cap and gown, but was never going to graduate. When pressed, police said Shea told them her mother paid her thousands of dollars this year."

Those thousands were meant for her education, but WTIC reports it turns out she didn't attend college this year. Police say Shea panicked and called in the threats, hoping the ceremony would be canceled so her family wouldn't find out she wasn't graduating.

"She placed two calls warning of bombs on campus that forced the school to move graduation and the more than 5,000 people who were attending a mile away to the TD Banks Sports Center."

Police were able to trace the calls back to Shea's cell phone.

The Hartford Courant reports the first bomb threat was called into the library, and while authorities were searching, a second call came in saying there were several bombs on campus and not clearing out graduation wasn't a "good idea."

Police haven't revealed how they found Shea inside the arena. She has now been charged with falsely reporting an incident and threatening in the first degree.

WTNH points out "Shea confessed after being arrested. ... She's being held on a $20,000 bond and will appear in court later this month."

The ceremony did eventually start, and rightful graduates got their diplomas. Now, Shea is in trouble with the authorities, and arguably worse, her mom.