Grandmother wore fake beard to sneak into school in order to see her estranged grandson

Police in Iowa City say an estranged grandmother used a fake beard to sneak into a school cafeteria and give her grandson gifts. Authorities have charged Gloria Laniece Bryan, 66, of Council Bluffs, with third-degree harassment and trespass after an incident on Oct. 20 at City High.

According to police reports, officers were initially called to City High in September when Bryan allegedly showed up unannounced to visit her grandson. Police said the parents of the student did not want any contact between him and his grandmother, and an officer issued Bryan a trespass and harassment warning.



In October, Bryan allegedly arrived at City High again, this time disguising herself as an elderly man using a fake beard and walker. According to police, Bryan was able to get into the cafeteria, where she found her grandson having lunch. She allegedly gave the student candy and a toy before staff recognised her and she fled from the school.

An officer spoke with Bryan on her phone as she was driving home and she admitted to entering the school to see her grandson. The woman said she was "desperate to see him," police said. The mother of the student told police she wants a protection order because she fears Bryan will abduct her child. Bryan was booked on Thursday at the Johnson County Jail on the two misdemeanor charges and released that night.