Two suspected IEDs found in mailboxes in Marshall County

MARSHALL COUNTY, Ind. -- Indiana State Police were called out to 2 different homes in Plymouth Monday after getting calls about improvised explosive devices, or IEDs.

“Explosives. That’s just … oh my gosh,” said Trudy Pittman, a resident of Marshall County.

State troopers are warning neighbors like Pittman across Marshall County about a potential threat delivered right to their mailbox.

“Be cautious when they’re opening their mailbox,” said Master Trooper Brian Hoffman.

Hoffman responded to the call and says the first IED was found in a mailbox on Olive Road Monday morning. Hoffman says it was discovered when the homeowner went to get their mail, but luckily the IED did not blow up.

The second was located in a mailbox on Third Road. This discovery was made by a mail carrier who saw that the mailbox was damaged.

“You can see the front of the mailbox is damaged with a hole. There’s also residue and portions of the IED that blew up inside the mailbox is here on the rim yet,” said Hoffman.

A hazardous device technician was brought in to remove those devices and no one was hurt.

“Everyone that goes out to get the mail, you don’t think about it. It is kind of scary to know that there are children in the neighborhood that go and get mail. And our mailboxes are close enough together, it could have been mine,” said Pittman.

Pittman lives next door to where one of those IEDs exploded and she says she’s never seen anything like it before.

“Up and down this road there are kids that do stuff to mailboxes like bats or whatever as a joke…. But that’s no joke. This is different,” said Pittman.

And troopers want to keep it that way for everyone else.

“If you see an IED or what you believe is some sort of a device, contact the state police and we will come out and assess the situation and take care of that,” said Hoffman.

Police say the devices were x-rayed and are going to be checked for fingerprints to help in their search for a suspect. They say the only piece of info they have from neighbors as of now is the description of a can or truck with a loud exhaust.

If you find an IED or pipe bomb, do not touch or move it. If one is in your mailbox, leave it open, get out of the area and call 911.

If you have any information in this case, please contact Trooper Michael Gruett or Trooper Brian Hoffman at 574-546-4900.