Preliminary hearing set for woman accused of making threats toward school

A Tahlequah woman who is accused of making terrorist threats toward a school and authorities is slated to appear in court later this month for a preliminary hearing.

Frances Nichole Baldonado, 36, pleaded not guilty to during an initial appearance in January 2024.

According to the probable cause affidavit, Cherokee County Sheriff Jason Chennault was contacted by District 27 Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force Agent Pete Broderick, who was informed that threats were made toward students at Woodall School.

On Nov. 29, 2023, Broderick said the threats were made on a Facebook page that was named Birdie Lamont.

“I looked up the page as I was speaking with Agent Broderick and saw a post that had been made seven minutes prior that

stated, ‘Fine, quick and easy. The closest school. Just 2 minutes down the road to Woodall school room by room just picking a kid to shoot. I won’t even pick just aim fire next room,’” the affidavit stated.

Chennault advised the school resource deputy of the situation and instructed him to put the school on lockdown. Broderick discovered that Facebook page belonged to Baldonado.

Authorities went to the school to assist with the lockdown and investigators went to Baldonado’s residence, which was half a mile from the school.

A previous post on the Facebook page that was dated Nov. 29, 2023 and it stated, “Umm how bout this… I’m going to start following police home and killing their families the next time they leave for work.”

According to another Facebook post, Baldonado said it was a nice day to drive to the Cookson Fire Department and then to the first Walmart she sees wherein she’d “snatch” babies from buggies.

Baldonado was arrested and transported to the Cherokee County Detention Center and booked for terroristic threats and threatening to perform an act of violence.

The preliminary hearing is March 27 at 1:30 p.m.