An 18-year-old fire cadet from Sidney, Iowa, named Kaelyn Alexis Surrell, has been charged with seven counts of threats of terrorism after allegedly creating a "hit list" of individuals she intended to harm through arson attacks. According to the Fremont County Sheriff's Office, Surrell, who is a student at Sidney High School, compiled a list that included students and staff from her school, as well as other community members. Authorities claim that Surrell specifically threatened to commit acts of arson against the individuals on her list.

Local news station KCRG, based in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, reported that Surrell had sent the hit list to at least one person on Snapchat. The sheriff's office revealed that Surrell's list consisted of "people she had bad encounters with where she has a motive to carry out harming them." Additionally, due to her role as a fire cadet with the Shenandoah Fire Department, officials believe that Surrell possessed the "potential knowledge" necessary to carry out the planned acts of arson.

Surrell was apprehended on December 26 and has since been charged with seven counts of threatening terrorism, a felony offense. She is currently being held on a $5,000 bond. The investigation into the matter is ongoing, and it is important to note that Surrell is innocent until proven guilty.

In a disturbing twist, Surrell appeared to smirk widely in her mugshot following her arrest. Authorities have described her alleged plot as a plan to harm classmates and teachers through arson attacks. KCRG reported that Surrell had identified at least seven individuals from Sidney High School whom she intended to target in these "arson incidents," as stated in a criminal complaint. The complaint further revealed that Surrell planned to harm those who had wronged her or with whom she had negative interactions.

The fact that Surrell was a fire cadet with the Shenandoah Fire Department raised concerns among authorities, as it suggests that she possessed the necessary knowledge to carry out the planned acts of arson. The complaint stated that Surrell had sent the alleged hit list to someone on Snapchat, which eventually prompted the authorities' involvement. According to Law and Crime, the complaint mentioned that Surrell had a phone conversation with a reporting party in which she discussed her "hit list" for causing arson incidents towards individuals. The list included other students and employees from the Sidney Community School District, as well as individuals with whom she had negative encounters.

Specific details regarding the planned arson attacks were not immediately available. Surrell has been arrested and charged with seven felony counts of threats of terrorism. The seriousness of these charges reflects the potential harm that could have been caused if Surrell had carried out her alleged plan. The investigation is ongoing, and it remains crucial to remember that Surrell is innocent until proven guilty.