A 19-year-old college student earned himself three first-degree burglary charges and an internet nickname by breaking into South Carolina homes and turning them into crime scenes that looked like a Tex-Mex restaurant had detonated inside.
The Night Quail Run Road Became a Crime Scene
The early morning hours of January 14 shattered the quiet of Quail Run Road, a residential neighborhood populated largely by students near Coastal Carolina University. A couple woke to discover an intruder standing in their bedroom. The 19-year-old suspect fled when spotted, but the chaos he left behind defied explanation.
Queso cheese dripped from their television and furniture. Eggs lay smashed across floors. Furniture sat overturned. Their refrigerator had been raided, with queso, salsa, and eggs missing. The scene resembled vandalism committed by someone who viewed groceries as weapons rather than food.
👀 A New Hampshire man is facing multiple burglary charges after allegedly breaking into houses near Coastal Carolina University and pouring queso on someone’s TV.
FULL STORY 👇https://t.co/Z7TMIb3VPp pic.twitter.com/IKEN7hlrVA
— WCBD News 2 | Count on 2 (@WCBD) January 16, 2026
A Signature Style Emerges Across Multiple Homes
Two additional break-ins that same night revealed a disturbing pattern. At one residence, the intruder stole a marijuana bong and doused a television and speakers with maple syrup. At another, milk-covered surfaces throughout the home. The food-based vandalism became Arinello’s calling card, earning him the viral moniker “Queso Man” across social media.
Police connected the incidents through surveillance footage and the peculiar modus operandi. The thefts seemed almost secondary to the grotesque vandalism. Stolen items included golf clubs and a Corona beer bar light alongside the bong, suggesting targets of opportunity rather than calculated burglary.
The Chase and Capture Behind the Baseball Stadium
Horry County Police spotted a black Jeep with New Hampshire license plates later that day. When Arinello emerged from nearby woods, officers ordered him to stop. He ran instead, leading police on a foot chase that ended near the Coastal Carolina University baseball stadium. Officers found him hiding behind a bush, a college student from Windham, New Hampshire, now facing serious felony charges. A search of his vehicle produced the stolen golf clubs, bong, and beer light, connecting him directly to the crime scenes. His arrest brought relief to terrified residents who had awakened to find their homes violated and defiled.
What the Absurdity Cannot Hide
The bizarre nature of the crimes invites mockery, and internet commentators seized on the queso angle with predictable enthusiasm. Yet underneath the absurd details lies a frightening reality for the victims. These families experienced home invasions while they slept, one of the most violating crimes imaginable. The cleanup required professional carpet cleaning and likely replacement of electronics destroyed by cheese and syrup. The psychological impact of waking to find a stranger in your bedroom extends far beyond the property damage. College-area neighborhoods face unique vulnerabilities from late-night disturbances, but this incident crossed the line separating pranks from serious criminal conduct.
The Consequences Ahead
Arinello faces three counts of first-degree burglary, charges carrying potential prison sentences exceeding 15 years under South Carolina law. He was initially held without bond at J. Reuben Long Detention Center, though one report indicates he later posted bail. His motivations remain unexplained, leaving open questions about intoxication, mental state, or whether he viewed his actions as some twisted prank. Coastal Carolina University has not publicly addressed the incident, but students facing felony convictions typically face expulsion regardless of legal outcomes. His family in New Hampshire now watches as their son becomes internet fodder while navigating the serious legal consequences of choices made during one chaotic night.
Sources:
Everything We Know About the ‘Queso Man’ Arrested in South Carolina – Vice
Man pours queso on TV, smashes eggs on floor in Conway area – ABC News 4