Student who bragged about disgusting acts towards roommate expelled from school

HARTFORD – A student who bragged on social media about contaminating her roommate's belongings has been arrested and expelled from school.

Brianna Brochu, 18, was charged with criminal mischief after boasting on Instagram that she had forced her University of Hartford roommate, Chennel Rowe, to leave by performing unsanitary acts.

“After one and a half months spitting in her coconut oil, putting moldy clam dip in her lotions, rubbing used tampons on her backpack, putting her toothbrush places where the sun doesn’t shine, and so much more, I can finally say goodbye to Jamaican Barbie," Brochu wrote in the since-deleted post.

West Hartford police said they are asking a judge to add a felony bigotry charge as Brochu is white and Rowe is black.

Brochu turned herself in on Saturday.

In a Facebook video posted Monday, Rowe claims the reason she was sick early in the school year was due to Brochu's actions. Rowe said she had been suffering from throat pain that affected her ability to sleep and talk.

Rowe also accused the university of attempting to cover up the incident, saying school officials told her if she spoke out about Brochu, she too would be removed from student housing.

Rowe said other students alerted her to Brochu's social media post detailing the acts she used to drive out her roommate.