Tag: St. Joseph County

Weird News: The Hot Pocket Bandit

Brian McCurren, a.k.a. The Hot Pocket Bandit, shown in a 2014 photo.

Back in March of 2014, former Notre Dame student Brian McCurren got a little too intoxicated and broke into a South Bend spa. Once inside Theraputic Indulgence, he caused thousands of dollars of damage then ate all of their Hot Pockets.

Image may not accurately reflect the actual Hot Pockets in question.

According to police, Brian McCurren made several break-in attempts before successfully throwing a 100-pound flowerpot through the door. Once inside the spa’s breezeway, he then found a hammer and tunneled his way through the drywall into the main part of the business.

He must have really wanted those Hot Pockets.

After reenacting digDug and discharging a fire extinguisher for unknown reasons, Brian was a very hungry boy who decided it was a good time to make himself a snack or three. He tried to make macaroni and cheese but burned it, setting off the fire alarm. Then he ate all of the spa’s Hot Pockets, which begs the question what kind of spa serves Hot Pockets? Finally, he attempted to eat a plate of drumsticks but passed out on top of them first, which is where police found him.

“The way I understand it,” Sara ros Frazier, owner of the spa said, “he had a grin on his face and he had no idea where he was or what he did.”

Just the Facts: Jeff Pelley

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Name: Robert Jeffrey (“Jeff”) Pelley

Date of Birth: December 10, 1971

Claim to Infamy: On Sunday morning, April 30, 1989, four members of his family were found shot to death in their home. More than seventeen years later, Jeff Pelley was found guilty of their murders. His only known motive was that he wanted to go to his prom’s after-party but was grounded. The killing of father Robert (38), stepmother Dawn (32), and stepsisters Jonell (8), and Joleen (6) was known in the press as “The Prom Night Murders.”

Indiana Connection: Jeff attended LaVille High School in South Bend. Until their deaths, his family lived just outside of Lakeville, where his father served as reverend to the parishioners of the Olive Branch United Brethren Church in Christ.

Current Status: Serving his 160-year sentence in Wabash Valley Correctional Facility

Random Disturbing Fact: The Pelleys had two other children, Jacque and Jessica, who almost certainly escaped death simply because they were sleeping-over elsewhere the night the murders occurred. The sisters are divided on the question of their brother’s guilt. Jacque believes he is innocent.