Watch CBS News

Marines Arrested In Lejeune Bomb Plot

Two Marines from Camp Lejeune in North Carolina and a third person downloaded bomb-making information from the Internet and threatened to use the explosives at the base, state police said.

Richard D. Morrison Jr., 21, of Tunkhannock, and Richard Thomas Medders, 22, of Trussville, Ala., were arrested Saturday along with Janna Rebecca Lynn Smith, 27, of Richlands, N.C., police said. They remained in custody Monday in lieu of $100,000 bail each.

They were charged with conspiracy to risk a catastrophe, a felony, plus misdemeanor charges of making bomb threats and terroristic threats.

Prosecutor George Skumanick said they were turned in by a sister of Morrison.

"Morrison's sister and a friend heard them talk about this and observed them on the Internet," Skumanick told the News & Observer of Raleigh, N.C. The newspaper did not identify the sister.

Morrison and Medders allegedly left Camp Lejeune about two weeks ago, state police said.

It was not clear if they were authorized to be off base. Marine Corps officials did not return calls seeking comment Monday.

Tunkhannock is about 135 miles northwest of Philadelphia.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.