‘Dance Moms’ Scare: Bomb Squad Called After Young Reality Star Sent Suspicious Packages Containing ‘Stalking Items’

Things just got a little too real for one of the young stars of the Lifetime reality-television series “Dance Moms”: Multiple media outlets have reported that “suspicious packages” were mailed to one of the performers on the dance-competition show, resulting in an appearance by a bomb squad Tuesday.

WTAE-TV in Pittsburgh reported that five packages arrived at a post office in Murrysville, Pennsylvania -- a little more than 11 miles from the location where the Lifetime series films when it’s on the East Coast. The packages reportedly contained various items, such as blankets, a coffee maker, a scrapbook and handwritten letters, but no bombs. Nonetheless, they were destroyed with a water cannon Tuesday afternoon.

“They contained items that were inappropriate for minors -- harassing, stalking items,” said postal inspector Tammy Mayle.

The site did not report to whom the packages were mailed, but it did confirm that the intended recipient “does not live in Pennsylvania.” TMZ reported that authorities are keeping the name of the “Dance Moms” star under wraps because “he or she is a minor.” The post-office box used was reportedly set up by a fellow cast member to receive fan mail.

WTAE-TV reported that the individual who sent the packages has been identified by authorities, with reporter Ashlie Hardway posting on her Facebook page Wednesday that a California man in his 30s who has “been known to send odd packages to celebrities in the past” is in police custody.

“Dance Moms” began filming at coach Abby Lee Miller’s Pittsburgh studio, Abby Lee Dance Company, in 2011. In the most recent season of the series, concluding Aug. 11, the stars relocated to Santa Monica, California, after the opening of Miller’s West Coast studio, Abby Lee Dance Company Los Angeles.

“Dance Moms” stars several mothers and their daughters as they navigate the dance-competition and entertainment worlds in the quest for stardom. The show’s sixth season will start production in coming months.