Abandoned washing machine found at Aurora Christian Schools

Police responded to Aurora Christian Schools on Monday morning after an abandoned washing machine, spraypainted and welded shut, was found in the Aurora school’s parking lot.

Students were relocated to a safe distance from the area where the washing machine was found, and parents were notified about the situation, according to Aurora Christian Schools Superintendent Collette House. She said many parents chose to excuse their students from school, so attendance was “extremely low.”

The Aurora Police Department and the Kane County Bomb Squad responded to the situation after an employee of Aurora Christian Schools reported the washing machine in the southwest area of the school’s parking lot at around 7:15 a.m., Aurora Public Safety Media Manager Jim Levicki said.

“The item has since been examined and determined to be non-hazardous. It was filled with concrete, and there is no threat to the community,” he said.

At around 10 a.m., House said in an email that it was “all clear” and that students were returning to their classrooms.

“Supervision and student engagement will occur all day for those who remain in attendance,” she said.

The Aurora Police Department is looking into a motive for placing the washing machine in the school’s parking lot, and evidence technicians have gathered all related evidence from the scene, according to Levicki. He said on Monday that no additional information was available.

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