Former Loudoun County substitute teacher Hadyn Dollery convicted of threats against high school

Right · 2A Loudoun County, Virginia jury found Hadyn James Dollery, a 19-year-old former substitute teacher, guilty on four of five counts over threats to carry out a "murder spree" at a high school. 1 2 Right · 1The convictions were two counts of threatening to injure or kill a person, one count of making threats on school grounds and one count of threatening to damage a building; Breitbart reported Dollery was acquitted on a third threat count. 1 Right · 2The four convictions carry up to 25 years combined, with no minimum, and sentencing is set for Jan. 28. 1 2

Right · 1Prosecutors said the messages were sent over Discord at 1:49 a.m. on April 15, the day after Dollery's boyfriend broke up with Dollery. 1 Right · 2According to prosecutors, Dollery threatened to kill the ex, the ex's family and Dollery's own family, to carry out a "murder spree" at the ex's school, and to cannibalize one victim after killing them; Just the News, citing Loudoun Now, adds a threat to burn down the ex's home. 1 2 Right · 1The ex and another victim reported the messages through the Safe2Talk tip app; Breitbart said officials at John Champe High School, the target, and Eagle Ridge Middle School, where Dollery worked as a non-licensed substitute, treated them as credible and added security. 1

Right · 1Charging documents say the sheriff's office received the report April 16, and Dollery was taken into custody four days later, off school property, and removed from the substitute list. Jurors also heard about a box cutter in a backpack and phone records showing a Google search about blood. 1 Right · 2Defense attorney Mary Swanson argued the case was a "teenage love triangle" involving Dollery, the ex and students the ex had previously dated, "teenage drama […] blown out of proportion"; Breitbart added she said it was Dollery's first breakup and that there was no history of violence. 2 1 Right · 1Loudoun County Sheriff Mike Chapman questioned the school division's hiring after the arrest, saying 18- and 19-year-olds should not be responsible for students; division spokesman Dan Adams defended the process, noting the division employs more than 13,000 people. The division allows 19-year-olds with a high school diploma to substitute. 1

Right · 2Dollery is described as transgender and goes by "Sophie"; Just the News said a public defender described Dollery in June as a transgender woman undergoing hormone therapy, and that Dollery is housed alone at the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center. 1 2 Right · 2Just the News said outlets differed in how they referred to Dollery and the ex, with some using she, some he, and WJLA omitting sex altogether; Breitbart places the case against Loudoun's 2021 school bathroom assault case, which led to a special grand jury report. 2 1