Brother of teen accused in school shooting plot removed from family home

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- The Puxico student charged with allegedly threatening to kill 29 of her schoolmates was ordered to remain in juvenile custody Tuesday afternoon.

Her brother will also remain in state custody due to unsanitary conditions in the home.

The girl, who is charged with communicating a threat to cause an incident condition involving danger to life, appeared before juvenile Judge Joe Satterfield for a detention hearing in her case.

She is accused of making threats to bring a gun to school and kill people on her March birthday. She allegedly posted a photograph of herself holding what appears to be a high-powered rifle on the social networking site Facebook and had a list naming her intended targets.

The girl, who was released Monday from a hospital where she underwent in-patient mental health assessments, made her appearance moments after Satterfield held a child protective custody hearing in regard to her brother.

The child protective custody hearing, according to juvenile authorities, was needed after the girl's brother was removed from their home Thursday during the execution of a search warrant.

The boy was removed due to what juvenile authorities described as unsanitary living conditions including trash and clutter, as well as animal feces and urine throughout the house.

During the girl's hearing, all the parties reportedly consented and agreed she should remain at the Stoddard County Juvenile Detention Center.

While at the secure facility, juvenile authorities report, the girl will have access to educational assistance and crisis intervention.

Satterfield continued the girl's detention hearing for two weeks to allow time for further investigation by the Stoddard County Juvenile Office and mental health evaluations of the girl.

As part of their investigation, authorities are expected to process the evidence seized from the girl's home, including a computer.

According to a news release, a search warrant for the girl's home was requested Thursday by Stoddard County assistant prosecuting attorney Rance Butler on behalf of the juvenile office.

The search warrant, which was granted by Satterfield, was executed later that same day by the Stoddard County Sheriff's Department.

The search warrant reportedly sought computer hardware and software and external storage devices; a list of names of potential victims who attend school with the juvenile, including computer generated and handwritten lists; and any long guns, including, but not limited to, the one depicted with the juvenile on Facebook.

During their search, officers seized a laptop computer, sketchpads and loose papers, which reportedly contained a list of names the juvenile allegedly was going to kill; several firearms, one of which matched the description of the rifle being held by the juvenile in the Facebook photograph.

Juvenile officials said the living conditions found by the officers during their search led to the immediate removal of the boy, who was placed with the Missouri Children's Division and then with family members, and a hearing being ordered.

Although some juvenile hearings are not open to the public, the boy's child protection custody hearing was open per Section 211.319, subsection 1, of the state statutes.

That statute, juvenile authorities report, allows access to hearings related to child abuse and neglect cases.

During the hearing, Poplar Bluff attorney Danny Moore, who represents both of the children, told Satterfield the parties had agreed that the boy would remain in the custody of the Children's Division and reside with his maternal grandparents, who will transport him to school in Puxico.

Satterfield followed the agreement in issuing his order.

"What affected the little boy affected this girl, too," a juvenile official said after the hearing. "She was in the house; we may have forgotten that."