Police investigating WA high school after testosterone vials found in Pride display

A Washington state school has removed federally controlled testosterone vials from a Pride Month display and transferred them to law enforcement after administrators determined the items had been placed there without approval.

The display at Graham-Kapowsin High School came under scrutiny Friday after UnDivided host Brandi Kruse shared photos on social media showing Pride-themed materials, including a transgender flag, LGBTQ-themed decorations, children's book "Pink, Blue, and You," and what appeared to be testosterone vials arranged as part of the exhibit.

"OH. MY. LORD. We were just sent images of the Pride display at Washington’s Graham-Kapowsin High School," Kruse wrote on X. "It contains vials of testosterone injections."

The vials were marked as testosterone cypionate, a Schedule III controlled substance

Following public attention to the display, Bethel School District confirmed that administrators had discovered testosterone vials among the materials and removed them. "We were made aware of a display at Graham-Kapowsin High School that included empty vials of testosterone as one of its visuals. The display also contained some vials that still contained a small amount of unknown liquid," Douglas Boyles, director of communications for Bethel School District, said in a statement to Kruse.

"The inclusion of the vials was entirely unauthorized and did not receive approval from school leadership or administration," Boyles added. According to the district, administrators identified the individuals responsible for placing the vials in the display and removed the items. "Administrators have removed the vials and identified the individuals responsible for adding them without leadership approval," Boyles said.

The district has not publicly explained why the vials were included in the display or whether they were intended to symbolize gender-transition treatments.

The incident also drew the attention of local law enforcement. Responding to Kruse's post on Friday, Pierce County Sheriff Keith Swank wrote, "Pierce County Sheriff’s Office will be investigating this." Swank said that his office has identified a student as a person of interest who may have brought the vials in, and is looking to see whether any teachers were involved. 

Boyles said the district is reviewing procedures governing displays and other materials placed in schools. "We are also actively reviewing our display oversight protocols to ensure all school materials strictly align with our educational standards and community expectations," Boyles said. "Our primary focus remains on maintaining a safe, respectful, and focused learning environment for all of our students," he added.

On Monday, Kruse reported that sheriff's detectives had taken possession of the vials as part of the investigation. "Pierce County Sheriff Keith Swank was not playing around. His detectives seized the testosterone vials this morning. We've obtained these images. A key question will be whether they belong to a teacher or student," she wrote.