The Orange County Criminal Lawyer Blog
A Kentucky daycare employee is accused of making threats to “shoot up” the facility in an effort to force a lockdown during a stretch of extreme summer heat.
The 27-year-old woman allegedly told investigators she did not want to be outside with the children in the heat and knew a threat would keep everyone inside the building. Temperatures in Bowling Green reached the high 90s on August 13 and 14.
The investigation began August 13, when Warren County sheriff’s deputies were called to the daycare over reports of violent threats. Investigators initially suspected a former employee or her husband and located the pair nearby.
The two agreed to be questioned, but after several hours, investigators released them. A second threat was reported the next day at Bluegrass Farms Learning Center and Bluegrass Farms Christian Academy, prompting another response from deputies as detectives continued searching for the source.
Investigators eventually traced the messages to a cellphone and IP address associated with one of the daycare facilities. Detectives began interviewing employees.
The woman allegedly admitted to sending the messages and explained why she did it.
According to the probable cause affidavit, one message warned that “NO ONE IS SAFE” and demanded that the children be removed from the building. Investigators said she acknowledged that the threats were intended to trigger a lockdown so she and the children could remain indoors.
She was arrested and charged with second-degree terroristic threatening and making a false report that generates an emergency response. She was being held at Warren County Regional Jail on a $5,000 cash bond.
She waived her right to a preliminary hearing, and the case was sent to a grand jury for indictment consideration.
If you or someone you love is suspected of a criminal offense, contact Orange County criminal defense lawyer Staycie R. Sena at (949) 477-8088 for a consultation now.