Crime is a fact of life; there’s no getting around it, and one can only hope to contain it. In today’s society, there are so many laws one can easily commit a crime and not even know it. Crime can mean many things, from jaywalking to murder and everything in between. And sometimes, criminal acts are strange.
People can come up with the most bizarre ways of committing crimes, from streaking across the field at a football game to dressing like a clown to commit armed robbery. Just in the last year, there have been some of the most unusual crimes imaginable. And not surprisingly, there is a “Florida man” story—and a Florida woman one too. So let’s get to the ten most bizarre crimes of 2022.
Related: 10 of the Most Bizarre Crimes From Around the World
10 Woman Sets Bees Loose on Police
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On October 12, 2022, a 55-year-old Massachusetts woman, Rorie Wood, was part of a group of protestors at a Longmeadow home. Hampden County Sheriff officers were serving a legal eviction notice but were opposed by a local group supporting the homeowners. Wood, who did not live at the residence, arrived in a beekeeper’s suit in a van full of bee hives. She began shaking the crates containing the hives. “Never in all my years of leading the Hampden County Sheriff’s Civil Process Division have I seen something like this,” said Robert Hoffman, Chief Deputy of the Civil Process Office.
Wood was immediately taken into custody and arraigned for multiple assault and battery charges. She was released without bail, but the charges are still pending. While handcuffed and walked to the police car, she was told that some of the officers were allergic to bees. She replied by saying, “Oh yeah? Good!”[1]
9 Bride Laces Wedding Food with Marijuana
A Florida woman, Danya Svoboda, and her caterer Joycelyn Bryant thought lacing wedding guests’ dishes with marijuana would be a cute prank. Not only was it not cute, but it was also a crime. Things went south at the April wedding quickly as people had adverse reactions to the food. One guest began vomiting; another thought she was having heart issues and retreated to her car. Some guests had hallucinations, and others had dark thoughts about their loved ones.
While none of these are typical reactions to marijuana, the unsuspecting crowd was clearly upset. Svoboda and Bryant tried to brush the incident off as a silly prank, but recreational use of marijuana is illegal in Florida. The two-faced felony charges for food tampering and misdemeanor charges for culpable negligence.[2]
8 Tyson Foods CFO Wandered into Someone Else’s Home and Fell Asleep
Everyone knows Tyson Foods, famous for chicken, hot dogs, and countless other delicious foods. The Tyson name carries respect, and no member of that family would ever want to bring shame to the family name. But that’s exactly what happened on November 6, 2022. John R. Tyson, the Chief Financial Officer for the meat giant and great-grandson of founder John W. Tyson. The younger John wandered drunkenly into a random person’s Arkansas house early in the morning and proceeded to get undressed. He made his way to a bedroom and fell asleep. When the homeowners realized a stranger was sleeping Goldielocks-style in their home, they called the authorities.
When the police arrived, the residents informed them that the door was unlocked. Tyson was not charged with breaking and entering, but he was charged with public intoxication and criminal trespassing. In addition to the expected backlash from this kind of situation, the fact that he had only had this position since September of this year brought serious concerns to investors, despite Tyson’s apology. John had already been scrutinized by shareholders for his lack of experience, and now it seems he is unfit for his position.[3]
7 Car Thief Caught Hiding in Stuffed Teddy Bear
In July 2022, in Manchester, UK, Joshua Dobson was arrested on suspicion of grand theft auto, driving on a suspended license, and leaving a gas station without paying. The authorities tracked him to his home, intending to arrest him. When they arrived, however, Dobson was nowhere to be found. While searching Dobson’s residence, police noticed an oversized stuffed bear that seemed to be breathing. Eventually, the jig was up, and Dobson was caught.
While his crimes were more petty than bizarre, his hiding spot certainly was creative. Joshua was sentenced to nine months in prison for his crimes. After sentencing, the local police made a statement, “He’s now stuffed behind bars after being sentenced last week for theft of a motor vehicle, driving while disqualified, and making off from a petrol station without payment. Hopefully, he has a bearable time inside.”.[4]
6 Man Vandalizing Property in Attempt to Get Security Job
In May 2022, a Florida man, David Proudfoot, dressed up as a Disney World employee and proceeded to remove several expensive decorative pieces, including an R2-D2 replica, from its place at The Swan Reserve, a hotel on the Disney property in Orlando, Florida. All told, he moved both the statue and an arcade game, among other things, over several incidents on Disney property. He had applied for a position as a security guard, and he intended to prove his worth by revealing holes in Disney’s security. An actual security guard noticed Proudfoot’s suspicious behavior as he pushed a cart with the replica statue across the street.
When confronted, Proudfoot proceeded to identify himself as David E. Rogers, a Disney employee. Eventually, security found Proudfoot’s ID, and he then admitted to taking the $10,000 statue but claimed he was not going to take the item off Swan property.
Proudfoot had previously been charged with stealing about $15,000 from a Baltimore County school system during his time as an elementary school principal in Maryland. The incident happened in 2014, and Proudfoot faced third-degree grand theft, petit theft, obstruction by false information, and scheming to defraud charges.[5]
5 Man Chased into Manhattan Traffic by Attacker Demanding Food
Around 6:20 pm on September 18, 2022, the 23-year-old victim was standing on W. 141st St. near Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd. Suddenly, the 6’2″ (188-centimeter), 210-pound (15-stone) suspect got out of a black Nissan Rogue. The suspect walked directly to the man on the phone and started an argument, asking where his food was. The victim was confused and walked away, but that was not the end of it.
As he walked away, the suspect attacked him, punching him in the head. The 23-year-old got to his feet and attempted to flee the situation. The mugger then pursued him down the sidewalk. Eventually, the victim tripped, fell, and rolled right in front of an oncoming SUV. Luckily, the driver stopped in time, and the victim suffered only superficial injuries. The victim dropped his bag and cell phone, which the mugger picked up. The victim managed to retrieve the bag before the mugger got back into the Nissan Rogue and drove off. Police are still looking for the suspect.[6]
4 Tourist Destroys Ancient Roman Sculptures After Denied Meeting with the Pope
In early October 2022, an American tourist visited The Vatican hoping to meet the pope. The tourist demanded to see the head of the Catholic Church. He was informed that his wish would not be granted, and it all went south from there. The man immediately rushed off, grabbing one of the ancient Roman busts that line the wall of the Chiaramonte Museum and dropping it to the floor. He destroyed two artifacts, one as a result of a temper tantrum at not getting his way and a second as a result of his attempt to flee staff.
Fellow tourists were shocked at the outburst and could only stare in awe as museum security eventually caught and apprehended the unruly guest. The museum described the artifacts as minor pieces, but they are both over 2,000 years old. Museum staff immediately began to work on restoring the pieces, but the damage was severe, and they will never be the same. They had been secured to the wall with nails, but the tourist was able to “bust” them loose with a bit of force. This incident will most likely lead to tighter security in the museum and increased distance between tourists and artifacts.[7]
3 COO of Vegetarian Food Company Bites Man’s Nose
Beyond Meat is a plant-based meat producer known to be vegetarian and vegan-friendly. It’s possible that COO, Doug Ramsey, may not be either vegan or friendly. On September 17, 2022, Ramsey attended a football game at the University of Arkansas stadium. Fights breaking out among fans is a rather common occurrence at the stadium, but this one was a bit unusual.
Ramsey was attempting to exit the parking lot when his car was hit by another driver. Ramsey completely lost it. He reportedly punched through the back windshield of the other car. When the driver got out of his car, Ramsey punched him in the face and proceeded to bite off his nose, threatening to kill him. By the time the police arrived, both men were covered in blood. Ramsay was arrested for “terroristic threatening and third-degree battery” and was released on an $11,000 bond. Ramsey had spent 30 years with Tyson Foods before moving to Beyond Meat. He officially resigned in October after less than a year with the company.[8]
2 Man Kills Friend over Bigfoot
A 53-year-old Oklahoma man, Larry Doil Sanders, went barehand fishing last summer at the South Canadian River with his friend, Jimmy Knighten. The two eventually got into a heated argument, and Sanders strangled Knighten to death. Larry came home and told his daughter what he had done. She informed the police, who found Knighten’s body the next day near the river. Sanders told authorities that Knighten planned to feed him to “Bigfoot,” so it was merely self-defense.
Knighten’s murder was brutal, according to police reports. Sanders struck his friend with fists and sticks, and the two fought for a long time before Sanders finally squeezed the life out of Knighten. According to Sanders, Knighten had summoned Bigfoot to kill him, and the monster appeared before Knighten attempted to escape. Not wanting to be eaten by the Sasquatch, Sanders murdered Knighten so that Bigfoot would focus on the easy prey. Sanders faces murder charges.[9]
1 Woman Tries to Buy a Baby at Walmart
We all know that people tend to act out of hand at Walmart from time to time. Whether shopping in pajamas or being overly entitled, we expect the bizarre at the famous chain store. However, nothing could prepare one mother for what happened in January 2022. While in line at the self-checkout, Rebecca Lanette Taylor noticed a blonde-haired, blue-eyed baby with a woman at another check stand. Taylor asked the mother if she could purchase the woman’s child and how much it would cost.
Initially, the Texas mother took the comment as a joke, but Taylor was dead serious. When she offered $250,000 for the child and assured her she had the money, the mother told Taylor the baby wasn’t for sale. That didn’t end the encounter. Taylor followed the woman through the parking lot, harassing her about buying her baby. She became unhinged and frightened the mother so much that she locked her baby in the car for safety.
Taylor doubled her offer and assured the woman that she would have that baby. The mother finally escaped but reported the incident to the authorities. On January 18, 2022, Taylor was arrested on felony charges of attempted sale or purchase of a child, though she denied all allegations. She claimed she was at Walmart simply minding her own business. [10]