Drawing on Walmart bathroom wall brings charges

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- The writing on the restroom wall in the Perryville Walmart didn't leave prosecutors laughing Wednesday. Instead, they filed criminal charges against a Farmington, Mo., man for making what they describe as a very real bomb threat.

Eric B. Householder, 24, was charged with the felony making a terroristic threat in connection to a reported bomb threat at Walmart in Perryville. Police believe Householder drew a picture of an exploding bomb, remote device and the time "4:30" on the wall of a stall at the department store in the early morning hours Oct. 16, according to a probable-cause statement.

Police were called to the store at 1750 S. Perryville Blvd., at about 12:40 p.m. Oct. 16. Employees showed police the drawing in a men's bathroom stall, and police reviewed surveillance video to see who had been in the bathroom before the drawing was discovered.

According to Perryville Police Department Det. Jon M. Lanier's probable-cause statement, police interviewed Householder, who denied creating the drawing.

Police relied on surveillance video to eliminate other potential suspects.

In his felony complaint, Perry County Prosecuting Attorney Thomas Hoeh claimed Householder drew the picture to cause an evacuation of the store.

An arrest warrant for Householder had not been returned Thursday afternoon, according to the Perry County circuit court clerk's office. He had not made a court appearance.

Householder could face as much as seven years in prison and up to a $5,000 fine.

Pertinent address:

1750 Perryville Blvd., Perryville, MO