Otsego Schools Investigating After “Kill List” and “Death Note” Discovered; Threat Deemed Non-Credible

WOOD COUNTY, Ohio — Otsego Local Schools is taking disciplinary action after two elementary students were found with written lists referencing harm to classmates, according to a notification sent to district families on Friday.

Administrators say the situation came to light when a student reported seeing another child writing in a journal while riding the bus. The journal reportedly included language suggesting other students might be harmed. School officials, along with law enforcement, immediately launched an investigation.

During that investigation, staff recovered two separate lists — labeled “Kill List” and “Death Note” — containing the names of 4th and 5th graders.

Superintendent Kevin O’Shea said the students responsible were removed from class and their parents were contacted right away. Both school administrators and law enforcement interviewed the students, and the district’s Threat Assessment Team later determined that the situation did not pose a credible threat.

Even so, O’Shea said the behavior violated district policy and would result in disciplinary consequences under the student code of conduct and board guidelines.

“Student safety is our highest priority,” O’Shea wrote in his message to families. “Any threat, verbal, written, or implied, is addressed immediately.”

The district plans to notify parents individually if their child’s name appeared on either list. Families who do not receive an email by the end of the day Monday can assume their child was not included.

Officials encouraged any families with concerns or who feel their child may need additional support to contact school administrators.

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