The last several weeks have been filled with stories of sexual assaults and violent attacks at Blackburn College and the surrounding community of Carlinville, Illinois. But rumors spread fast at a small school, so let’s break down everything that has been confirmed by the Carlinville police and campus security.
First, let’s start with what we know to be true based on information that was gathered directly from the Carlinville police. In the past month, two relevant crimes have been reported. On Oct. 19, at approximately 9:45 p.m., 22-year-old Carlinville native Takoda M. Harbaugh allegedly approached a woman walking to work. Harbaugh demanded money at knifepoint, and when the woman said she didn’t have much, he sexually assaulted her. He then forced her to go to an ATM and withdraw cash. Harbaugh is being charged with aggravated criminal sexual assault and armed robbery. Both counts carry sentences of six to 30 years in prison if convicted. Harbaugh is currently being held in Macoupin County Jail with a bond of $1 million.
Takoda Harbaugh is being charged with aggravated sexual assault and armed robbery in connection with an assault committed on Oct. 19
Another incident occurred on Nov. 6 at the Casey’s General Store in Carlinville. At 1:08 a.m. a white male subject entered Casey’s, bleeding from multiple stab wounds. Responding officers gave the victim first aid until an ambulance arrived. The subject was suffering from over 20 stab wounds and was transferred to a hospital in Springfield. Later that night, the officers responded to an address on South Locust Street, where they found Josh Green and Britney Stewart with blood on their clothing and about their home. After further investigation, a search warrant was obtained for the property. Both perpetrators are currently incarcerated in the Macoupin County Jail, and the investigation is ongoing.
Josh Green is currently incarcerated in connection to stabbing at the Carlinville Caseys
Brittany Stewart is also currently incarcerated in connection to stabbing at the Carlinville Caseys
Since the beginning of October, the incidents recorded above have been the only violent crimes reported, and neither of them occurred on Blackburn’s campus. Blackburn Director of Campus Safety Morrie Frasier said that no sexual assaults had been reported on campus in the month of October, and any had yet to be reported to date. The campus crime logs (published monthly, so we only looked at October) confirmed Frasier’s statement. With our combined experience doing the campus crime logs for over a year, no reports of sexual assault in a month are actually lower than normal. This isn’t to say that no sexual assaults occurred, just that none were reported.
However, this doesn’t mean that there haven’t been disturbing events reported on campus. Unconfirmed student testimony reported the following events. On Oct. 30, sophomore criminal justice major and softball team member Abby Frerichs went to The Bullpen on Rice Street with multiple teammates to practice. At around 10:30 p.m. Frerichs decided to leave as the others stayed behind. As she began to walk back to campus, she noticed a car parked along the street with two men standing alongside it. Thinking nothing of it at first, she continued towards campus. “I heard whistling and men shouting things. Next thing I knew, they were back in the car and I was running to make it back to campus,” Frerichs said. The men continued shouting and following her. She eventually made it back to the school, hiding in the trees near the tennis courts as she watched the vehicle circle the Demuzio Campus Center parking lot before giving up their pursuit. Frerichs did not report the incident to campus safety and security or local police.
There has also been a sighting of a man wearing a clown mask on campus. This was confirmed in a Nov. 6 email announcement sent from the Blackburn Announcements email account. The announcement said, “… a student reported an individual in a clown mask walking toward them. The Carlinville Police Department, in conjunction with Campus Safety and Security and Residence Life, conducted a search of the area the individual was sighted in, but no individual in a mask was found. Please report any strange incidents such as this directly to Campus Safety and Security by calling 217-825-3042.” Although this reported event hasn’t resulted in any injuries or incidents, it is still disturbing.
Students are encouraged to make use of the Campus Safety and Security campus escorting service by calling 217-825-3042 at any time. Students should exercise caution, particularly at nighttime. Any questions or concerns should be directed to Assistant Dean of Student Life and Director of Residence Life Abbey Hardin or Director of Campus Safety Morrie Fraser. Students are highly encouraged to report any suspicious or threatening behavior on campus.