09/04/2026
JUVENILE IN CUSTODY FOR CAT-IN-THE-HAT THREATS
The investigation stems from locals joining a national social media trend using Ai-generated images and videos of a Cat in the Hat character making threats. The images and videos are shared on social media or sent as private messages.
Last Sunday, school and police officials received the first reports of a threat to an Andalusia High School student made via SnapChat.
Sgt. Jackie Woods and Officer Ryan Maddox, both school resource officers, immediately began investigating, and the APD assigned Investigator Tyler Patterson to work with them, Capt. Brett Holmes said. They were able to identify the SnapChat account used to make the threat, and obtained a warrant that allowed them to determine to whom the account belonged, the phone used to log into the social media platform, and the IP address used.
On Friday, the juvenile suspect was interviewed and confessed, Holmes said.
�“In this case, the parent was 100 percent cooperative,” Holmes said. “She understood the severity of this cause and the disruption it has caused and continues to cause.”
�He added there are other potential suspects and that the investigation is continuing.
On Thursday, Andalusia City Schools Superintendent Dr. Daniel Shakespeare issued a statement about the local incidents related to the national trend, and encouraged parents to do their part.
“What we are asking of parents. Talk with your child about this trend,” he wrote. “Most of these videos are made with Ai and are not real, but a post or message that names a school or a student is treated as a real threat no matter who made it or why. If an account connected to the trend messages your child, or your child sees a post naming one of our schools, our community, or a student, do not reply, share or comment. Take a screenshot that shows the account name and the date, and report it the same day to your child’s principal or to the Andalusia Police Department at 334-222-1155.”
Dr. Shakespeare’s message to students was similar in tone.
“Creating or sharing one of these posts is not a prank,” he wrote. “Alabama House Bill 7, effective July 1, 2026, defines a credible threat as a ‘knowing and willful statement or course of conduct which, based on the totality of the circumstances, would cause a reasonable person to fear for his or her safety or the safety of another.’ Under the same act, ‘if a student is charged with making a terrorist threat in the first or second degree, the school system shall immediately suspend that student from attending regular classes,’ and a student adjudicated or convicted ‘shall be expelled from school, and the court may order the student and the parent or guardian of the student to pay restitution to law enforcement, emergency medical service providers, and the local board of education for any costs incurred relating to the crime.’ ”
Andalusia Police Chief Paul Hudson said that the APD has not previously sought restitution for the time involved in an investigation of this kind, but would do so if the case warranted it.
�“We take all threats seriously,” he said. “This was a case of our kids at our school creating an issue. There were multiple events, and we encourage mamas and daddies to check their children’s phones to help prevent similar cases in the future.”
