Bomb threat prompts evacuation of Kentucky's State Capitol building

FRANKFORT, Ky. (WDRB) -- Kentucky's State Capitol building in Frankfort was evacuated Wednesday morning because of a bomb threat.

The threat was mailed to Secretary of State Michael Adams' office. The threats were apparently mailed to multiple Secretary of State offices throughout the country.

Deputy Secretary of State Jennifer Scutchfield said she was checking her email first thing in the morning, until she saw what was at the top of her inbox.

KENTUCKY DEPUTY SEC OF STATE JENNIFER SCUTCHFIELD 1-3-2024 (1).jpeg — Kentucky Deputy Secretary of State Jennifer Scutchfield at the State Capitol building in Frankfort, Ky. (WDRB Image by Adi Schanie) Jan. 3, 2024

"The email threatened. They had a bomb in the Capitol, and I'd die," she said.

Michon Lindstrom, from the Secretary of State's Office, said the email threat came in about 7:45 a.m. Wednesday and was sent to Secretary of State offices in Mississippi, Missouri, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and South Dakota.

Scutchfield was the only Kentucky official to receive it. She followed protocol by contacting Kentucky State Police and the FBI.

Lindstrom shared the message with WDRB that was sent from a gmail address with the subject line "Explosives inside of your State Capitol." It said explosives were hidden in the building and would go off in a few hours.

Lindstrom said Kentucky State Police evacuated the Capitol building "out of an abundance of caution" to check for explosives. Troopers and K9s searched the building but did not find anything.

The all clear was given just after noon, and people were allowed back inside.

KENTUCKY STATE POLICE OUTSIDE STATE CAPITOL IN FRANKFORT AFTER BOMB THREAT 1-3-2024.jpeg — Kentucky State Police were called to investigate bomb threats at the Kentucky State Capitol in Frankfort, Ky. (WDRB Image) Jan. 3, 2024

Scutchfield said, "I'm pretty sure it was a hoax.

Authorities will determine whether the states that received the threat may be connected. Scutchfield believes it could be election related.

But this experience isn't new for Scutchfield and many other Kentucky officials.

“I wish I could say this is my first time receiving a death threat working in elections, but it’s not," she explained.

Scutchfield said she and the Secretary of State have received at least a dozen threats like this one.

“Its scary when you see this thing happen to people who have dedicated their lives to public service it's unfortunate," she said. "This is how we get thanked.”

Kentucky State Police has not released information about the sender or any possible motive.

A similar bomb threat was reported at the Georgia Capitol. The threat was ruled a hoax.