Inset: Kayla Canler (Warren County Sheriff's Office). Background: The area in Kentucky where the daycare is located (Google Maps).
A 27-year-old Kentucky daycare employee is accused of sending threats to "shoot up" the daycare where she worked and warning that "No one is safe" in an effort to trigger a lockdown that would keep her and the children inside during a recent heat wave.
Kayla Mae Canler was taken into custody and charged with one count each of second-degree terroristic threatening and making a false report that generates an emergency response, records show.
According to a press release from the Warren County Sheriff's Office, deputies responded Aug. 13 to a report of violent threats against a daycare facility on Plano Road in Bowling Green. Investigators were initially told a former employee or her spouse might be responsible, and deputies secured the facility before locating the pair nearby.
The two "believed suspects" agreed to be interviewed by investigators, who also submitted emergency requests for the duo's social media and email data. However, after several hours of questioning, the former employee and her husband were released.
The following day, another threat was reported at Bluegrass Farms Learning Center and Bluegrass Farms Christian Academy. Deputies again secured the facilities as detectives continued investigating.
Investigators eventually traced the threats to a cellphone and IP address located at one of the daycare facilities. Detectives began interviewing employees, and Canler allegedly confessed to sending the messages.
According to a copy of the probable cause affidavit obtained by the Bowling Green Daily News, one of the threats warned: "I will be here all day I see yall blocking off everything NO ONE IS SAFE. Better get all the kids out of the building now it's not over I didn't get in trouble yesterday so with that being said."
Canler allegedly explained that she had sent the threats because she did not want to be outside with the children in the summer heat. The temperature in Bowling Green on Aug. 13 and 14 reached the high 90s.
"Kayla provided information pertaining to the messages and her motive for sending the messages," the affidavit reportedly said. "She stated she did not want to be outside in the heat with the children and knew the messages would trigger a lockdown and they would remain inside."
Canler was taken to the Warren County Regional Jail, where she was being held on $5,000 cash bond.
She later waived her right to a preliminary hearing in Warren District Court, sending the case to a grand jury to consider an indictment.
The sheriff's office also criticized local citizens who had posted photographs of the "believed suspects" online and demanded they be brought to justice before investigators finished determining who they say was actually responsible for the threats.
"Unfortunately, many social media platforms shared pictures of the 'suspected' couple," the office said. "In addition, there were many, many very negative comments and people drawing conclusions and demanding we arrest these individuals or the 'people's justice' would be served. As an investigative agency, it is imperative that we ensure a thorough process. Ugly comments do not change or improve our team's mission."