Teen arrested for making threats on Facebook

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A 13-year-old Splendora girl has confessed to issuing a death threat against the entire town in which she lives, according to a Montgomery County constable. But he still doesn't know what the motive may have been.

It began as cyber-bullying against a young man in Splendora recovering from cancer, whose story prompted a visit from Texans star JJ Watt some months ago. Allegedly using the fake name of "Melissa Johnson," the girl is accused of messaging the boy on Facebook, writing that he "should have died."

Subsequent messages targeted the boy, but escalated last week to this Facebook message, reading, "I am going to kill everyone in Splendora on July 13th."

Precinct 4 Constable Kenneth "Rowdy" Hayden says his office received calls from people who said they were staying elsewhere because of the threat.

The Montgomery County District Attorney's office was initially unable to get Facebook to reveal the IP address from which the messages were being sent. On Saturday, the social media giant released it to investigators. The girl's arrest was made Sunday evening.

Hayden says the girl was arrested at a relative's home in Harris County. Her parents are said to be cooperating with investigators.

Despite her age, she is still being accused of making a terroristic threat, which is a felony.

She will be prosecuted by the Montgomery County Attorney's Office, which handles juvenile cases.

"It should remind parents that they need to monitor their children's social media sites," Hayden says.