Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, December 21, 1993 TAG: 9312210107
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MIKE HUDSON STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Sheriff W.Q. Overton says the deputy knew the man had no children at the school, so he asked why the man wanted the principal. The man "readily admitted making the phone calls," Overton says.
According to the sheriff, the man then told investigators that the threats to the elementary school were a decoy and that "the real bomb is somewhere else, but I'm not going to tell you where."
Later, however, the man admitted there was no bomb anywhere, Overton said.
Barry Ruben Perdue, 42, of Wirtz was charged with making bomb threats. He was taken to the Franklin County Jail, where he was being held without bond.
Five years ago, Perdue walked into a bank in Boones Mill carrying a plastic box. He gave the manager a handwritten note saying there was a bomb in the box and that he would detonate it if he was not given some money.
He left with $2,200 and then drove his car to a nearby gas station, where he bought $4 worth of gas. After his arrest at his home, he willingly led investigators to where he had buried the money.
Circuit Judge B.A. Davis III sentenced Perdue to probation, saying he needed psychiatric help more than prison.
Overton said Monday that Perdue has been having problems with a relative, and he may have been seeking attention.
The sheriff said the school's principal had received phone calls in which a man had threatened to blow up the school. The man asked that the principal send out a 6-year-old child as a hostage, Overton said.
The school's children were evacuated to the Burnt Chimney Volunteer Fire Department. Those who had not eaten lunch were given hot dogs from a nearby convenience store.
Some students were picked up by their parents. After a search with explosive-sniffing dogs turned up no bomb, the other children were returned to school just in time to catch the bus home.
by CNB