Franklin police: 4 suspects arrested in Kayla's Park soda bombs case

FRANKLIN -- Franklin police said Tuesday, February 7th they have taken into custody four suspects related to a year-and-a-half long open, active investigation.

On October 9th, 2015 at approximately 12:00 a.m. the Franklin Police Department responded to reports of an unknown suspicious loud noise occurring in the area of Kayla’s Park located on W. Puetz Road.

While checking the area, responding officers discovered two suspicious bottles in the wooded area located west of Kayla’s Park. The plastic bottles contained an unknown substance and appeared to be expanding while venting a white colored vapor.

This incident happened on the day that Kayla's Playground was set for a ribbon cutting ceremony. The playground was inspired by Kayla Runtee -- a bright young girl with cerebral palsy who passed away in 2012. The playground consists of equipment usable by both able and disabled people.

Because of the potential hazardous nature of the bottles, assistance was requested from the Milwaukee Police Department, which dispatched its Hazardous Device Unit to the scene and rendered the suspicious bottles safe.

Franklin Woods Nature Center

Evidence collected at the scene was sent to the Milwaukee office of the Wisconsin State Crime Lab for analysis. In late January 2017, results received from the State Crime Lab helped identify possible suspects in the incident.

Acting on the State Crime Lab results, investigators conducted additional follow up investigation which led to the identification and subsequent arrest of four suspects.

Monitor FOX6 News and FOX6Now.com for updates on this developing story.