Tennessee mom Loretta Clayton is accused of threatening to blow up her son's elementary school after his backpack went missing, with the 30-year-old allegedly telling school staff over the phone that "some kids will be missing."
Action News 5 reported that Clayton was arrested after she placed those threatening calls to Getwell Elementary School in Memphis on Wednesday, April 20. According to court documents, a teaching assistant at Getwell allegedly told law enforcement that she took a call from Clayton, who phoned asking about her child's missing backpack.
She then grew angry, with Clayton threatening to blow up the elementary school. According to an affidavit, the teacher claimed that Clayton went on to say in the phone call that "some kids will be missing."
Loretta Clayton talked to the school principal about threats
The irate mother ended that conversation, but she was not finished with her tirade. Clayton called the school back, reaching the principal this time around. According to the school principal, the woman identified herself as Loretta Treadwell, Clayton's maiden name, in the phone call. Fox 13 Memphis reported that the principal issued a warning to Clayton in their conversation, telling her not to call and make threats to the school.
The principal alleges in the affidavit that Clayton claimed she never threatened to blow up Getwell Elementary School and only said that some children would go missing. The principal told law enforcement officers that Clayton had previously called the school earlier in the week inquiring about the missing backpack of her son.
Investigators have verified the phone number of Clayton from the calls she made to the school. Clayton was taken into custody by police later in the day because of her threatening calls. Police officials did not say if Clayton had any weapons in her possession at the time of her arrest.
Read Also : Indiana State Police Asks Public to Help Identify Boy Found Dead in Woods in Washington County
Clayton charged with threat of mass violence on school property
According to a report, she was charged with a threat of mass violence on school property or at a school-related activity, which is a misdemeanor charge. Clayton was ordered to appear in court on Thursday, April 21. She has already been arraigned, with the Tennessee mom being given a $4,000 bond.
According to U.S. News, Getwell Elementary is a public school located in Memphis, Tennessee, which is in a large city setting. Getwell Elementary's student population stands at 523, with the school serving PK-6. At Getwell, 17 percent of their students scored at or above the proficient level for reading, and 17 percent scored at or above that level for math.
The minority student enrollment at Getwell Elementary is 98 percent. The school's student-teacher ratio is placed at 19:1, which is worse than the district's. Getwell's student population is 51 percent male students and 49 percent female students. There are 27 equivalent full-time teachers at Getwell and one full-time school counselor.
