BENTON - Two Benton students were taken into custody Friday after a bomb threat was found at about 1:45 p.m. in a girls' bathroom at Benton school.
Jessica Gratz, 17, and a 14-year-old female were tentatively charged with creating a bomb scare, a class I felony, and disorderly conduct, a class B misdemeanor, according to Lafayette County Sheriff Scott Pedley.
School staff found the note at 1:49 p.m. The note said a bomb would detonate at 2 p.m. The note didn't say where the bomb was located. Employees evacuated the school.
Because the 14-year-old is a juvenile, her name can't be released. Benton Superintendent Bruce Bradley couldn't say what grade each student is in due to confidentially reasons.
Gratz was released pending court. The 14-year-old was taken to a juvenile facility. Pedley said he didn't know when the girls would make their initial appearances in Lafayette County Circuit Court.
The investigation is almost complete, he said.
Bradley said there weren't many students in the school because Friday was the last day of the school year. Elementary students were at a park Friday and the senior class already had graduated. There was about one hour and 20 minutes left in the school year when the note was found, he added.
No bomb was found in the school after a 45-minute search conducted by the Lafayette County Sheriff's Department, Wisconsin State Patrol, Benton Fire Department and Benton First Responders, Pedley said.
All 12 grades attend the same school in Benton.
Pedley praised the school district for its actions.
"They appropriately evacuated the school and promptly notified law enforcement," he said.
Detective Jerrett Cook was able to obtain evidence that linked the threat to the two students, Pedley said.
Jessica Gratz, 17, and a 14-year-old female were tentatively charged with creating a bomb scare, a class I felony, and disorderly conduct, a class B misdemeanor, according to Lafayette County Sheriff Scott Pedley.
School staff found the note at 1:49 p.m. The note said a bomb would detonate at 2 p.m. The note didn't say where the bomb was located. Employees evacuated the school.
Because the 14-year-old is a juvenile, her name can't be released. Benton Superintendent Bruce Bradley couldn't say what grade each student is in due to confidentially reasons.
Gratz was released pending court. The 14-year-old was taken to a juvenile facility. Pedley said he didn't know when the girls would make their initial appearances in Lafayette County Circuit Court.
The investigation is almost complete, he said.
Bradley said there weren't many students in the school because Friday was the last day of the school year. Elementary students were at a park Friday and the senior class already had graduated. There was about one hour and 20 minutes left in the school year when the note was found, he added.
No bomb was found in the school after a 45-minute search conducted by the Lafayette County Sheriff's Department, Wisconsin State Patrol, Benton Fire Department and Benton First Responders, Pedley said.
All 12 grades attend the same school in Benton.
Pedley praised the school district for its actions.
"They appropriately evacuated the school and promptly notified law enforcement," he said.
Detective Jerrett Cook was able to obtain evidence that linked the threat to the two students, Pedley said.