Ohio Town at the Center of Haitian Immigrant Pet-Eating Conspiracy Theory Now the Target of 33 Bomb Threats

Springfield, the Ohio town that was the ground zero for the conspiracy theories and rumors that suggested Haitian immigrants had been abducting and eating people’s pets, has recently been hit by numerous bomb threats .

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine said at a press conference on Monday, September 16, that the city has received “at least 33 separate bomb threats,” Knewz.com has learned.

It was reported earlier that two Springfield hospitals – Mercy Health-Springfield Regional Medical Center and Kettering Health Springfield – were forced into lockdown on Saturday, September 14, as a result of bomb threats.

Kettering Health Springfield released a statement regarding the threats, which read:

“The Springfield Police Department alerted our security team that a bomb threat had been made toward Kettering Health Springfield. Based on this information, the facility was placed on a temporary lockdown.”

The statement, issued on the following day, mentioned that a thorough search was conducted on the premises of the hospital by the Springfield Police Department and the Kettering Health Springfield security team.

“[The authorities] did not find anything suspicious. The lock down has now been lifted,” the statement added .

It was further reported that two schools in Springfield were evacuated on September 16 due to bomb threats as well, according to local reports.

“Our children deserve to be in school,” Ohio Governor DeWine said in a statement. He further announced that 36 troopers from the state Highway Patrol will be stationed throughout Springfield for added security.

On the same day, the Ohio State Legislature in the capital city of Columbus became the target of a bomb threat as well. Local reports mentioned that the threat included “derogatory remarks about Springfield’s Haitian population.”

Reports further mentioned that some Haitians living in Springfield have now begun fearing for their lives as a result of the rumors spread by the Republican presidential campaign.

It has been reported that bomb threats, along with shootings and other forms of violence, have seen a steep rise in the state ever since former President Donald Trump reiterated the now-debunked rumors about Haitian immigrants at the September 10 Presidential debate.

“In Springfield, they’re eating the dogs, the people that came in, they’re eating the cats. They’re eating the pets of the people that live there,” Trump remarked at the debate that saw him face off with Vice President Kamala Harris for the first time as a presidential candidate.

It is worth noting that the rumors were initially spread by Trump’s running mate and Ohio Senator J.D. Vance .

The Republican running mate first made the claim in a video clip shown on CNBC and shared by his own X, formerly known as Twitter, account.

Sharing the CNBC clip on September 9 on X, Vance wrote:

“Months ago, I raised the issue of Haitian illegal immigrants draining social services and generally causing chaos all over Springfield, Ohio.”

“Reports now show that people have had their pets abducted and eaten by people who shouldn’t be in this country. Where is our border czar?”

It was reported that Vance’s claims seem to originate from a Facebook post on a Springfield local group that alleged that Haitian immigrants were “carving up” animals and people’s pets – like cats and dogs – and eating them.

However, it was later reported that Vance’s claims regarding the abduction and consumption of people’s pets by Haitian immigrants have since been debunked. Reports mention that the police have confirmed they have received no calls regarding pets being stolen or eaten.

Notably, Vance admitted during a 16-minute interview with CNN that he fabricated the rumor about Haitian immigrants eating the pets of Springfield residents.

“If I have to create stories so that the American media actually pays attention to the suffering of the American people, then that’s what I’m going to do, Dana [Bash, CNN anchor], because you guys are completely letting Kamala Harris coast,” he said at the interview.

In order to make sure she heard the Republican VP pick correctly, Bash said, “You just said this is a story that you created,” to which Vance replied, “Yes.”