February 11, 2021–5:45 a.m.
WZQZ RADIO
On Wednesday, February 10, 2021, Chief Investigator Jason Burrage with the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office made an arrest in connection to the recent bomb threat investigation at the Trion Wal-Mart.
The arrest came after an investigation into the January 29th and February 5th incidents where a note threatening that a bomb was in the store was found in the rear women’s restroom. Both threats resulted in the store being evacuated and thoroughly searched by first responders and the management staff of the store.
These threats caused a major disruption in the operations of the store and panic with some local residents as they shopped.
Chief Investigator Burrage has arrested 23-year-old Melanie Ann Cornett of a Trion address and charged her with 2 counts each of Terroristic threats and acts and False report of a crime and 1 count of False statements and writings.
She was booked into the Chattooga County Jail and is being held on a $10,000 property bond.
Melanie Cornett was an employee of the store when the threatening notes were found.
“We are very fortunate that no one was injured during these incidents and the evacuations of the store. I know that Melanie realizes that her actions were wrong and serious. She turned herself in on the warrants.” Sheriff Mark A. Schrader.