How a UNC-Chapel Hill freshman ended up with 8 felony secret peeping charges
A UNC freshman faces multiple felony charges after his suitemate found a camera in their bathroom, search warrants state.
Marshall Ragsdale, 19, of Greensboro is charged with eight counts of secret peeping dating back to at least March 30, according to his arrest warrant. He was arrested April 15 after turning himself in with his attorney and family, court documents state.
Ten days before Ragsdale’s arrest, a university employee reported to police that a camera pen had been found and turned into staff at Craige Residence Hall the day before, according to search warrants. The camera was discovered by a resident in his suite bathroom. The News & Observer is not naming the resident to protect his privacy.
Video footage from the camera captured an individual believed to be Ragsdale placing the device in the bathroom, the warrants state. Investigators ultimately found 33 videos ranging in length from less than a minute to 10 minutes on the camera, showing students as they used the restroom and showered.
Several videos on the camera appeared to have been taken in an “open academic building restroom on campus,” according to the search warrants.
“Several videos show the individual putting the camera pen at different angles under the stall as if to get the best possible views,” the warrants state. “He can be seen also putting it under a stall and then sliding it under a stall on the other side.”
Investigators seized Ragsdale’s laptop, iPad and an SD card from his dorm room, according to court documents. Ragsdale wasn’t present for that search, but he met with police later, providing them his iPhone and the passwords for his laptop and phone, a search warrant states.
Ragsdale graduated last year from Episcopal High School, a private co-ed boarding school in Alexandria, Virginia. A UNC spokesperson confirmed Tuesday that Ragsdale is a freshman majoring in computer science. The university did not comment on whether he remains enrolled in classes.
The camera was discovered at 6 p.m. on April 4 and reported to UNC police at 10 a.m. the next day, according to the incident report.
Ragsdale was released on a written promise to appear in court. He was ordered to avoid any contact with victims, including remaining at least 1,000 feet away from them at all times, and he must stay at least 100 yards away from UNC’s campus, except to seek medical treatment at the hospital.
In a letter shared with on-campus residents, the university told students it was taking “appropriate legal and University actions.”
“While we cannot share additional details about the ongoing case, please be assured that UNC Police will reach out to any impacted resident, if identified,” the letter states. “Your safety and security remain our highest priority, and our residence hall security systems remain robust and effective.”
This story was originally published April 22, 2025 at 11:41 AM.
