After pigs roamed May River High in senior prank, cleanup cost tens of thousands
After students allegedly set pigs loose in the hallways of May River High School and caused significant damage throughout the building, officials say participants in the supposed senior prank gone wrong are “being held accountable at the school level” as they estimate cleanup costs in the tens of thousands.
The cleaning and repairs required after the prank cost “just over $20,000,” according to Candace Bruder, a spokesperson for the Beaufort County School District. She said the majority of the expenses came with cleaning the residue from fire extinguishers, which officials previously said had been sprayed “without cause” inside the building.
The students involved could face consequences like community service, disciplinary action and restitution for damages to the school building, according to a Tuesday update from the Bluffton Police Department, whose officers were investigating the prank as a vandalism case.
Students at May River were dismissed early around 11:30 a.m. on May 15 after school officials determined the cleanup required was too extensive to allow classes to continue, according to previous reporting.
At least two pigs were released into the hallways, but the damage allegedly extended far beyond that: furniture was overturned, there was an inflatable mechanical bull outside, fire extinguishers were “sprayed without cause” and syrup, soap, toilet paper, olive oil and pickles also had to be cleaned up, the Beaufort County School District previously said.
Students allegedly wreaked havoc on the building after being let in by a custodian employed by ABM, a San Francisco-based facility management provider, according to the school district.
Investigation into senior prank ends
Eydie Moody, a spokesperson for Bluffton PD, confirmed Tuesday that the police’s investigation into the vandalism had concluded. She would not confirm whether the students involved had been petitioned to juvenile court, and a request for the case’s incident report made Tuesday morning contained only a one-paragraph synopsis of the event.
The school district’s investigation into the prank was “still being finalized” as of Tuesday, spokesperson Candace Bruder said.
On Tuesday, Bruder shared a statement with families of MRHS students that said the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) prevented the district from sharing specific details of disciplinary actions made against the students involved.
But “most importantly,” the statement reads, the focus of Tuesday evening was on May River High School’s graduation, which is taking place at 7 p.m. at the school’s football field.
“We look forward to celebrating this significant milestone with our students, their families, and friends,” the statement says.
May River High’s return to normal operations
MRHS returned to normal operations on May 18, besides one classroom and the gym, which were operational the following day, the district previously said.
Bruder did not immediately answer a question Tuesday afternoon about whether the cost of damages from the prank was still being assessed.
This story was originally published June 2, 2026 at 1:56 PM.
