Racine County bomb threat update: Investigators say suspect Googled plan

 

RACINE COUNTY, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Last week, a 911 call with an automated voice made bomb threats to various government buildings in Racine County, causing evacuations.

Investigators with the Racine County Sheriff's Office are revealing new details in the case, sharing how their investigation led them to their suspect in just 24 hours.

The only trace from the threat was the phone number, which investigators tracked to Alberta, Canada.

"It's like peeling back an onion, so to speak," said Emil Ortiz, an investigator with the Racine County Sheriff's Office. "We are just trying to get to the center of that, so as every layer is coming off, we are starting to see kind of a pattern of how this worked."

Finding no records for the number, investigators discovered the digits were sold by an internet company that provides hard to trace numbers. Leading investigators right to their suspect, they found the number was purchased in Racine County, by Devone Kessler.

"Investigator Ortiz was actually able to identify the exact type of cellphone that placed this bomb threat," said Lieutenant Michael Luell, with the Racine County Sheriff's Office. "When the individual was taken into custody, guess what? That was in his pocket."

Lieutenant Luell revealed Kessler had Googled his scheme on how to make the anonymous threats, and made the threats to get his probation and parole appointment canceled.

"I would say it's somewhat of a technological space race," said Lieutenant Luell. "The bad guys try to figure out new ways to do it and we figure out new ways to catch them, and this time, the bad guy thought he was outsmarting us and the investigators, and he was wrong."

Devone Kessler was in the courtroom Wednesday for a preliminary hearing. He does not have a lawyer yet, so he will be back next month for a status hearing.