Published: May 28, 2008 01:42 pm            

Eustace student booked for threats

18-year-old may have had ‘hit list’ with classmates’ names

EUSTACE — A Eustace High School student remains in Henderson County Jail, charged with making terroristic threats at Eustace High School.

But Chris Underhill’s grandparents say there is no list, and that their grandson is the victim of classmates who dislike him.

“I can guarantee there’s not a list,” said Underhill’s grandfather, Dirk Braune of Payne Springs.

“He was passing out invitations to his birthday party and graduation party combined, coming up this week,” he said.

The Eustace student is accused of making a hit list, one which was said to include the names of several top students and athletes at Eustace High School.

If there was a list, it was a invitation list, his grandparents said Tuesday.

He was taken into custody last Thursday morning from the EISDs Discipline Alternative Education Program (DAEP).

Underhill was arrested by Eustace Police Chief Robert Walker at the site and charged with the third-degree felony.

He remained in jail Tuesday afternoon, in lieu of a $50,000 bond.

“They came out to his house with a warrant, searched the house for three hours and they came away with nothing,” Braune said. “He (Eustace Police Chief Robert Walker. He looked at every piece of paper, in the areas he accessed.”

Even Eustace High School Principal Stan Sowers said that while school officials have heard reports from students about the hit list, school officials hadn’t actually seen it.

Walker declined to say last week, or again Tuesday, whether evidence he collected before arresting Underhill, included such a list.

School officials set up a plan of action last Friday to help assure the safety of Eustace students once news of the list got out on campus.

A letter went home with high school students last Thursday explaining about the arrest.

The letter states that since the incident has come to light, access to outside doors at the school has been limited.

For the remainder of school, the letter states, all “outside activity” will be limited.

“We’ve had a plan all along, and we feel like we’ve executed the plan well,” Sowers said.

“We feel confident in the security of the school, and we will continue to take necessary precautions.”

Sowers said for peace of mind, officials had decided to take Underhill out of the main population of the school and put him in DAEP, partly because other students had been teasing him since the story got out.

Since then, Underhill has been closely accompanied by law enforcement authorities.

“We have been picking him up each morning (campus police) and taking him to school and then home again after school,” Sowers said.

Underhill has been escorted to the alternative school under close watch at all times.

The incident appeared to be winding down on Wednesday, according to Sowers, but after new information was brought forth by other students.

Walker said he felt he had sufficient cause to charge the student with the felony on Thursday.

Walker consulted with Texas Ranger Trace McDonald and the Henderson County District Attorney’s Office prior to making the arrest.

“I really appreciated the assistance of Trace McDonald and the D.A.’s office,” Walker said.

The arrest was made without incident, and Walker complimented Underhill on his cooperation during the interview..

        

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