Moniteau Sheriff: ‘California R-I bomb threat linked to recent hoax’

CALIFORNIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Moniteau County Sheriff said Friday a recent bomb threat at California R-I was linked to a hoax that also affected schools in Delaware.

A news release sent from the sheriff's office at 2:35 p.m. said the threat was emailed to the school district from an inactive Google account.

Sheriff Tony Wheatley said investigators contacted Google about the threat and discovered it was sent through a virtual private network in another country.

The release included two schools in Delaware received similar threats this week from the same sender.

Sheriff's office investigators worked with Delaware State Police and determined the threat was sent by someone with no ties to either area.

"We take these types of threats very seriously and are continuing to follow our protocols and procedures to ensure that the children and staff in our schools remain safe," Wheatley said in the release.

The sheriff's office said earlier this week the middle school principal received the threat in an email.

Teachers and a construction crew were inside school buildings when the threat was sent. No people were but all were evacuated.

The school district went on lockdown immediately after receiving the threat. District leaders pushed the fall semester back to Aug. 26 at a meeting Wednesday night.

California R-I Superintendent Dwight Sanders said Friday's announcement was a sigh of relief.

"When you get word that you're facing a threat like that, you are going to exercise excessive caution to make sure everyone is safe," Sanders said.

The superintendent said the lockdown was lifted at noon and teachers were allowed to reenter school buildings to set up their classrooms.

"The California Police Department, sheriff's office, our school resource officers and the highway patrol were instrumental in allowing us to return to school," Sanders said.

Back to School night at the elementary school was rescheduled for Monday from 4-7 p.m.