A Massachusetts woman who turned a trailer full of beehives into a biological weapon to thwart an eviction is headed to jail. Rorie Susan Woods, 59, was found guilty on April 17 of four counts of simple assault and battery and two counts of reckless assault following a bizarre 2022 confrontation that left multiple people injured and thousands of honeybees dead.
The incident unfolded on October 12, 2022, when Hampden County Sheriff’s deputies arrived at a residence to serve an eviction notice.
Woods, who was neither the homeowner nor a tenant, arrived at the scene in a professional beekeeper suit towing a flatbed full of hives. According to the Sheriff’s Office, she was there to protest the removal of the resident.
Authorities say Woods “smashed the lid, and flipped a hive off of the flatbed,” a move that immediately agitated the insects.
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As the swarm grew aggressive, it began attacking deputies and bystanders. When officers informed Woods that some of the deputies on-site were allergic to bee stings, she reportedly replied, “Oh, you’re allergic? Good.”
The situation escalated when Woods moved the hives closer to the front door of the home, further inciting the bees. The resulting chaos led to several deputies being stung, including one who required hospital treatment. The struggle also proved fatal for the bees, resulting in the loss of thousands of insects used in the attack.
Woods’ legal troubles were compounded by her attempt to evade the court system. After failing to appear for her trial in Massachusetts, she was tracked down and arrested in Tennessee last year.
A judge sentenced Woods to six months behind bars. However, with credit for the 148 days she has already served while in custody, her remaining time in jail will be significantly shorter than the initial sentence.
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