Police say a 19-year-old woman from Mason treated a University of Cincinnati dorm room like her own for several nights, slipping into Daniels Hall over winter break and quietly helping herself to students' belongings before anyone caught on.
According to court records, the woman allegedly entered the residence hall while most students were gone for the holidays, rode an elevator up, and found her way to a room where she stayed for days without detection. When students returned, they reported missing electronics and shoes, and the incident reignited long-standing gripes about how easy it can be to get into the building.
As reported by FOX19, court documents say the break-in happened on Dec. 16, 2025, just three days after the fall semester wrapped, and that an affidavit alleges the suspect slept in Room 105 for three nights. The filing lists an Acer laptop, headphones, a USB drive loaded with games, and pairs of Nikes and Uggs among the items taken. FOX19 also reports that someone inside the building let her in, and UC Senior Public Information Officer Kelly Cantwell told the station that “Carissa Gunter spent some time in Daniels Hall while most students were gone for winter break,” adding that the case remains under investigation by UCPD.
Daniels Hall Security, A Recurring Concern
This is not the first time Daniels Hall has landed on campus safety radar. Students and campus police have previously raised red flags about people getting into the building who should not be there, prompting UC to periodically beef up patrols after similar reports.
A 2023 report from WCPO detailed multiple burglaries inside Daniels Hall and noted that UCPD was reviewing surveillance video while urging residents to lock their doors. Those earlier cases help explain why some students say they were rattled that someone could allegedly camp out in a room for days without anyone noticing.
Charges And Court Status
Police arrested 19-year-old Carissa Gunter on Monday and booked her into the Hamilton County Justice Center. A municipal court judge set her bond at $10,000, according to FOX19. An arrest warrant in the case was issued on Feb. 23, and court records show Gunter faces four counts of burglary. Prosecutors have not said publicly whether they plan to add more charges as investigators keep working the file.
What Students Should Do
In the wake of this case and earlier Daniels Hall incidents, campus police and local outlets have sounded the same drumbeat: lock up and speak up. Students are encouraged to keep dorm doors locked, avoid propping open exterior entrances, and use tools like the Bearcat Guardian app to reach dispatch quickly.
Reporters covering prior Daniels Hall problems have also stressed the importance of saving any video or other potential evidence for investigators and alerting UCPD right away if someone in the building seems out of place. WLWT noted those standard precautions in earlier coverage.
The case is still under active investigation by UCPD and Hamilton County authorities. Anyone with information is asked to contact campus police or Hamilton County law enforcement as the matter moves through municipal court.
