Bartow PD: Girls planned to attack and kill at least 15 students

BARTOW, Fla. (FOX 13) - Two young girls from Bartow Middle School are accused in a plot to kill fellow classmates.

Bartow police say the brought scissors, knives, and even a pizza cutter to kill and dismember fellow students in the school bathroom Tuesday.

“They wanted to kill at least 15 people and were waiting in the bathroom for opportunity to find smaller kids they could overpower to be their victims,” said Bartow Police Chief Joe Hall.

The girls, 11 and 12 years old, planned, among other acts, to drink the blood of their victims from a goblet, according to investigators. 

They told police they came up with the horrific plan over the weekend and were doing it in the name of devil-worship.

“As I sat there last night [and] watched these interviews, I do not believe this was a joke,” Hall said.

Fortunately, the girls were found by the assistant principal before they could carry out the alleged attack. 

School staff had been looking for the girls after one was reported missing from class. 

Police say the girls were located in the very bathroom they had discussed.

After the girls were taken into custody, investigators searched their homes and found a hand-drawn map of Bartow Middle School with the words, "Go to kill in bathroom," written on it. 

Investigators say they also found messages on the girls’ cell phones about the planned attacks.

One of the messages said, "We will leave body parts at the entrance and then we will kill ourselves," police say. 

“It is very disturbing to me, not only as an educator but also as a superintendent and as a parent, but I want parents to know we’re going to do everything to keep their kids safe,” said Superintendent Jacqueline Byrd.

Extra security was already on campus Tuesday because of threats made a day earlier. 

Both girls face charges including conspiracy to commit first degree murder.

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