Man Allegedly Stuck Needles In Meat ‘For The Hell Of It’
An elderly man allegedly stuck needles in meat at an Illinois grocery store “for the hell of it,” according to the FBI. Donald Avers, 68, was jailed without bond Tuesday after he confessed to federal prosecutors that he inserted several sewing needles into packaged meat at the grocery store in his hometown.
The criminal complaint filed Wednesday against Avers alleges that one buyer of boneless chuck roast at the Belleville Shop ‘n Save stores later bit into one of the needles. The Associated Press reports that a needle slipped into a steak stuck another customer.
SuperValu Inc., which owns the Shop ‘n Save chain, assured that none of the cases of needles stuck in meat resulted in injury and the alleged tampering was isolated to the meat section of the Belleville store. Jeff Swanson, a SuperValu spokesman, told the AP, “With every customer that brought it to our attention, none reported needing medical attention as a result of the tampering. We have no reason to believe any tampering occurred outside of that one store.”
The Belleville News-Democrat notes that Avers made his first appearance in court Thursday to face seven counts of tampering with consumer products. He was stunned when U.S. Magistrate Judge Donald G. Wilkerson informed him he faces a maximum of 10 years in prison on each of the seven counts.
Avers responded to the news by shouting, “Oh, God!” leaning forward in his chair, and dropping his head. The suspect is described as a disabled veteran who carries a portable oxygen tank around. FBI special agents and Belleville police arrested him Tuesday after grocery store employees pointed him out as a suspect in past meat tamperings.
An open package of needles was fond in Avers’ truck and he admitted to sticking needles in meat at the store by concealing the needle in the holder of his portable oxygen tank before inserting it into the product. The man allegedly told investigators, “It was stupidity. I didn’t want to hurt nobody.”
Avers allegedly placed needles in meat that the Shop ‘n Save seven times between May 2013 and July 2014. The latest incident happened on July 12. Security footage at the store shows Avers placing needles in meat while riding a motorized scooter and carrying his oxygen tank.
SuperValu spokesman Jeff Swanson added of the case, “The most important thing that we want our customers and employees to know is that their safety is top priority with us.”
The man who allegedly stuck needles in packaged meat at the Illinois grocery store has a history of traffic offenses but no previous criminal history.
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