Local News

St. Xavier Suspect Must Stay Off College Campuses

$15,000 Bond Set For Katherine Loberg, Who Must Return To Minnesota

CHICAGO (CBS) ― A St. Xavier University student charged with scrawling a threat that shut down both school campuses for several days last month is now forbidden from setting foot on any college campus.

She's a student accused of writing the words "be prepared to die" on a bathroom wall at St. Xavier last month; Saturday evening, she's out on $15,000 bond.

Prosecutors say Katherine Loberg's graffiti caused the university and several other suburban schools to close for several days.

As CBS 2's Pamela Jones reports, she now faces criminal charges for defacing property and disorderly conduct.

Katherine Lober rushed out of the Cook County courthouse without a word to reporeters.

But in her bond hearing, the State's Attorney's Office mentioned the Saint Xavier freshman suffers from depression and has cut herself.

"I said suicidal ideations -- meaning she has attempted suicide in the past," said Assistant State's Attorney Koula Fournier.

There are mental health issues attorney's believe may be entangled with the threat Loberg is alleged to have written in permanent marker on the inside of a bathroom stall door.

It was found on her floor at Regina Hall.

The State's Attorney's Office says some 200 students were questioned, leading to six potential suspects. And that Loberg eventually failed a polygraph test.

Loberg was released into the custody of her mother.

The judge set several conditions for Loberg's release. She must stay away from all college campuses. She must return to her home state of Minnesota and seek mental health treatment immediately. And she has a 7 p.m. curfew and must stay at home until 7 a.m.

Defense Attorney Andrea Gambino thinks the conditions are overkill.

"I think it's been taken way out of proportion," she said.

Loberg's attorney says her client was an honor student in high school and is not a threat to anyone.

But Mayor Daley disagrees and says the suspect should bear all costs involved with the investigation, plus jail time.

"She's a very dangerous person," Daley said. "No excuses for that one. Yes, there are consequences."

"I hope it sends the message that this isn't going to be tolerated," Chicago Police Supt. Jody Weis said. "I couldn't even estimate the amount of money and manpower that we put forward on this."

Loberg must return to court May 9. She is charged with one count each of criminal defacement of property and disorderly conduct.

Loberg's attorney says her client has contributed to the world through social justice projects. She's hoping Loberg can get the treatment she needs and move on.

Meanwhile, St. Xavier says Loberg has been placed on immediate suspension and is barred from campus, university spokesman Joe Moore said.

The Roman Catholic school closed after the discovery of restroom graffiti in a freshman dormitory that read "be prepared to die on 4/14."

St. Xavier University, which has campuses in Chicago and Orland Park, canceled all classes for its 5,700 students for five days.

All students were given less than 24 hours to evacuate the campuses after the closure was announced.

University officials said they worked closely with the Chicago Police Department, and later the FBI, in making the decision to close the school and later reopen once a person of interest was identified.

The April 10 graffiti threat followed another incident April 5. That threat was found in a bathroom stall at the coed dorm. The message was of a "threatening but nonspecific nature," the school said in a statement.

The incident was reported to campus authorities and Chicago police. After the initial incident, Saint Xavier increased staff at the residence hall, which houses about 245 students, and discussed the incident with the people who lived there, officials said.

Campuses around Illinois have been on alert since a Valentine's Day shooting when a gunman burst into a lecture hall at NIU, killing five students and wounding 18 others before turning the gun on himself.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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