Cops Looking For Texas Woman Who Made Online Threats To Spread COVID-19

Authorities in Texas are looking for an 18-year-old woman who posted videos on Snapchat saying she was going to "infest" people with COVID-19. The Carrollton Police Department identified the woman as Lorraine Maradiaga and said she is facing charges of making a terroristic threat.

The first video appears to show Maradiaga at a drive-thru coronavirus testing site. Instead of going home to await the results of her test, Maradiaga went to a local Walmart, where she filmed another video saying that she had COVID-19.

"I'm here at Walmart about to infest every (expletive) because if I'm going down, all you (expletive) are going down," she says in the Snapchat video.

In another video, Maradiaga sat in her car and filmed herself coughing into the camera.

"If you want to get the coronavirus and (expletive) die, call me," she said. "I'll meet you up and (cough, cough), and I will shorten your life."

Officers went to Maradiaga's home, but have been unable to locate her. Officials said that her family is cooperating with their investigation and said they do not believe she is a threat to public health.

"We have no confirmation Maradiaga is actually a threat to public health," the police department said in a Facebook post. "We are, however, taking her social media actions very seriously."

To keep up to date on the latest news about the coronavirus and to understand what you need to stay safe and healthy, check out the Coronavirus: Fact vs. Fiction podcast from CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta.


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