In a federal courtroom in East St. Louis, Rustin A. Berkshire a 40-year-old former student of McKendree University, formally entered a guilty plea to charges that included interstate communication with a threat to injure and a decade-long pattern of stalking. The plea, entered on a Thursday, caps a multi-agency investigation that began after a series of terrifying messages were sent to the private liberal-arts college in Lebanon, Illinois.
Nature of the threats and harassing correspondence
According to the assistant U.S. attorney handling the case, Berkshire’s campaign of intimidation unfolded in several layers. Early in September 2025, he dispatched an email to a generic McKendree address proclaiming, “i want to make you people and your students suffer.” Within 45 minutes, a second email targeted a university employee, boasting of a desire to become “the evil human being that destroys their future.” The threat trail continued on the school’s Facebook page, where direct messages repeatedly invoked “pain and tears forever.” In addition to electronic outreach, Berkshire mailed two handwritten letters to one victim’s home, one of which was signed as a Valentine’s greeting that shockingly declared, “I wiped my ass” and included a hateful statement about the victim’s gender.
Law-enforcement response and arrest timeline
The Illinois State Police, the FBI and the Vincennes Police Department coordinated a rapid response after the September 3, 2025 messages were reported. State police traced the origin of the emails to Berkshire’s residence in Vincennes, Indiana. A welfare check conducted the same day found him intoxicated and “might have said some things,” but noted he possessed no firearms. Eight days later, on September 11, 2025, officers arrested Berkshire on the federal counts of interstate threat and stalking. He was later booked on separate Indiana charges dating back to 2021, where he had already faced accusations of harassment and stalking.
Prior misconduct and pending penalties
Berkshire’s criminal record stretches back several years. In August 2021, the Vincennes Police Department logged complaints of him harassing former co-workers and local business owners, leading to an arrest on stalking and harassment charges. He was convicted of stalking in Knox County, Indiana, in October 2021, and later filed an unsuccessful civil-rights complaint against the Vincennes Police Department in January 2023. A protective order issued in February 2021 remains active in Clinton County, safeguarding the university employee who received the direct email threat.
Under the plea agreement, Berkshire waived his right to appeal and consented to a term of supervised release after imprisonment. The court can impose a prison sentence of up to five years, fines of up to $250,000, and mandatory special assessments of $100 per federal district. A sentencing hearing is set for December 10, at which time the exact duration of incarceration will be determined. In the meantime, Berkshire remains in custody.
University reaction and community impact
McKendree University issued a statement emphasizing its commitment to safety, thanking the various law-enforcement agencies for their swift action. The institution, which serves roughly 2,500 students, increased police patrols on campus following the threats. The case underscores the challenges faced by colleges in addressing online and offline intimidation, and highlights the importance of coordinated inter-state investigations when threats cross jurisdictional lines.
