William Marrs was arrested on two felony counts (Monroe Co. Sheriff's Department).
A custodian at Bloomington High School North is suspended and facing potential felony charges after a group of girls found his cell phone recording video in the girls’ swimming locker room.
Police arrested William Marrs on preliminary charges of child exploitation and voyeurism.
Bloomington Police say the call came in around 7:45 p.m. Thursday.
Three girls who are part of a swim club that practices at the high school discovered the phone when they entered the locker room. One of them noticed a suspicious trash bag in the corner that appeared to have a camera lens pointing out a hole in the bottom of the bag. The girls covered the trash bag with a towel, then returned with two more members of the swim club.
One of the girls opened the bag, which was full of clothes and towels. She found the phone toward the bottom, and noticed it was recording video. The girl stopped the recording, then looked at the other items in the phone's camera roll. Police say there were two to three videos, as well as several photos.
"They did not indicate there was anything inappropriate," says Detective Sgt. Dana Cole. "The pictures were that of a child, but there was nothing inappropriate that they noted."
Police say the girls turned the phone over to their male swim coach and told them what they discovered.
Shortly after, Marrs approached a parent near the swimming pool and asked if anyone had found a phone. The parent directed Marrs to the swim coach, who felt he had to give it back to the custodian.
The coach and parents then reported the incident to police.
Detectives came to the school and found Marrs in another area of the building. They asked for his phone, which he turned over to police. He claimed someone had stolen his phone, and he used his Bluetooth watch to determine it was in the pool area of the school. He initially told police he didn't check his phone for any unfamiliar recordings or photos when he got it back. But, police say Marrs later admitted to watching the videos and then deleting them from his phone.
Police took Marrs into custody for questioning. They arrested him after they say Marrs eventually admitted to placing the phone in the trash bag and recording video.
"The custodian did claim this was the only time that he has done that, but detectives at this point do not believe that's true," Cole says.
Cole says the same girls who discovered the phone told police Marrs approached them two to four weeks earlier and told them he needed to do something before they went into the locker room. He told police he was replacing a soap dispenser.
Police are obtaining search warrants for Marrs' phone and watch. Cole says they'll also be talking to others who use the locker room.
"[I] recommend that the parents talk with their child, see if the child recalls the janitor doing anything suspicious when they were in the facility or around the bathrooms," he says. "And, also, if while they were in the changing room if they recalled seeing anything suspicious."
In an email sent to parents Friday morning, BHSN Principal Michael Akers says the district suspended Marrs pending investigation.
"Please know that we take the safety and security of our students and staff very seriously and will continue to be vigilant in our efforts," Akers said.
In an update emailed to parents Friday afternoon, MCCSC Spokesperson Andrew Clampitt said the district is cooperating with police on the investigation.
"If you or anyone you know has additional information regarding this situation, please reach our to our administration or the police department immediately as it may be helpful to this ongoing investigation," Clampitt said. "If any students are in need of counseling assistance, please contact your building administrator or your school counselor."
This post has been updated.
