For the second time this week, Camdenton schools have been hit with a bomb threat over the phone, shaking families and pulling law enforcement back into action around the Lake of the Ozarks. District officials say students received calls alleging a bomb at school, and police opened an investigation to track down whoever was behind the threats.
According to a police news release, three students reported getting a bomb threat by phone. The caller allegedly said he was "going to bomb the school and no one would escape," as reported by ABC17 News. Investigators worked with the Missouri Information Analysis Center to trace the number to Napa Valley, California, where Napa police identified an 11-year-old who allegedly admitted to making the calls.
District Response and Safety Measures
The Camdenton R-III district outlines its School Resource Officer program and emergency contact procedures on its official website, detailing how it coordinates with law enforcement when something goes wrong, according to the Camdenton R-III School District. Camdenton Middle School, listed at 88 Laker Drive, is one of the campuses where staff and school resource officers are typically the first to respond to on-site incidents, per the information posted at Camdenton Middle School.
Families are urged to lean on official district channels for updates instead of the rumor mill and to report any suspicious calls, texts, or messages directly to school administrators or police.
How Investigators Traced the Calls
Police say the number used in the threats was tied to a phone line in Napa Valley. Napa officers then located an 11-year-old who, according to the police release, admitted to making the calls. Camdenton police followed up with the boy's father and reported finding no connections to Camdenton and "no plan to travel" or intent to carry out the threat, according to ABC17 News.
Officials say the case is still under investigation while agencies in different jurisdictions continue comparing notes and confirming details.
Legal Context
Missouri law treats certain threat communications as criminal offenses under statutes such as RSMo 574.115, which covers terrorist threats and can carry serious penalties when a threat sparks evacuations or widespread fear. The statute text is available at RSMo 574.115.
Because the Napa suspect is a minor, any potential case would move through the juvenile system, which gives juvenile officers and courts discretion in how alleged offenses are handled. State guidance on juvenile cases is outlined by the Missouri Department of Public Safety.
Parents and guardians in the Camdenton district are advised to keep an eye on official messages from the schools and to contact the district or police immediately if they or their children receive threatening or suspicious communications. The district posts emergency contacts and related resources on its website, according to the Camdenton R-III School District. Investigators say they will keep working with outside agencies to trace any additional threats and decide whether further action is warranted.
