First-graders accused of plotting to poison, kill classmate with silica gel

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — According to KTUU, Anchorage police spokeswoman Jennifer Castro said the Winterberry Charter School first-graders planned to poison a classmate with silica gel, a substance used to absorb moisture in all kinds of products. Although silica gel is nontoxic, the students believed it was poisonous, the school's principal said in a letter to parents. The children were suspended after a classmate told officials about the plan and a school resource officer investigated the claim.

"The important lesson here is to really teach your kids if they hear something like this – something where someone intends to do harm to someone else – they should tell someone that they trust right away," Castro told KTUU.

>> Click here to watch a video report from KTUU

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