Brownwood News – The suspect in the recent 3M Bomb Threats has turned herself into the Brown County Sheriff’s Office. Gwendolyn Fay Hays, AKA Gwendolyn Morgan, was booked into the Brown County Jail, charged with two counts of Terrorist Threat, both 3rd degree felonies due to the fact a substantial group of the public was placed in fear of serious bodily injury; and causing an interruption in public service. 

Hays is currently being held in the Brown County Jail in lieu of bonds totaling $30,000.

 

 

Employees of 3M in Brownwood were evacuated two days in a row after bomb threats were communicated to the manufacturing facility.

“Bomb threats were directed at 3M Brownwood on Monday, May 29, and Tuesday, May 30,” said Jim Strickland, 3M Brownwood Human Resources Manager, in an emailed release.

“In both cases, we immediately evacuated the facility. Our number one priority is the safety of our employees, their families and our community. With the excellent support of the Brown County Sheriff’s Office, Brownwood Police Department, Brownwood Fire Department and the Texas Department of Public Safety, the threats were determined to be false.”

Brown County Sheriff Vance Hill released a public statement Friday morning regarding the case.

“On Thursday, Sgt. Investigator Scott Bird with the Brown County Sheriff’s Office, and Sgt. Ranger Jason Shea identified a suspect, Gwendolyn Fay Hays, of Brownwood in the recent bomb threats at the 3M Plant in Brownwood,” the sheriff stated.

Attention was turned to Hays, who was a temporary employee with 3M, after a coworker reported her cell phone missing from their locker prior to the first threat being made. It was determined the stolen cell phone was used to call in at least one of the bomb threats to dispatch at the Law Enforcement Center.

Bird and Shea located Hays and conducted an interview with her, during which she denied the allegations. Investigators reportedly did observe signs of deception from Hays during the interview. Additional evidence was gathered, including a positive identification of Hays’ voice reporting the bomb to authorities.

Justice of Peace Bryan Thompson issued two warrants for the arrest of Hays based on probable cause due to the evidence gathered.

Investigators were unable to locate Hays since their initial interview, and believed she may have fled to the Brady area where she has relatives. Hays’ information and picture was shared with media outlets and she later turned herself into the Brown County Sheriff’s Office.