A 30-year-old man reportedly became a suspect in an alleged pipe bombing case after his intense online focus on My Little Pony—a toy line marketed to young girls—raised alarming questions about his activities.

According to reports, Brian Cole Jr., the individual under investigation, demonstrated deep engagement with the franchise through fan art, song remixes, and written stories centered around its characters. His digital footprint includes 87 images of My Little Pony fan creations shared across platforms linked to his personal information. Notable among these works are depictions of ponies with bionic leg braces, a preference for pink or purple characters with long, multicolored manes, and one piece featuring a “Star Wars”-themed pony declaring: “I’m not ‘cute,’ I’m deadly.” Cole also reportedly authored fan fiction blending My Little Pony fantasy with horror elements.

One such story described a character named Applebloom awakening to “skeletons, zombified ponies rising up from the ground,” her body “rotting flesh sliding off from her bones.” A former high school classmate confirmed Cole carried a My Little Pony-themed backpack and faced teasing for it during his youth.

The case highlights the growing subculture of “Brony” enthusiasts—male fans who have historically embraced the franchise with dedicated communities—but underscores how seemingly niche interests can intersect with serious security concerns.