Death Note Replica Sparks Police Investigation and Parent Backlash at Massachusetts Middle School

A police investigation and a three-day student suspension followed the discovery of a Death Note replica notebook at Chocksett Middle School in Sterling, Massachusetts. School staff discovered the item around 4:00 PM on September 30, after students had left for the day. The notebook contained a list of names formatted after the iconic Japanese manga and anime series. While local law enforcement and school officials determined the incident posed no threat to school safety, the response has sparked pushback from parents.

What Did the Investigation Reveal About the Chocksett Middle School Incident?

Upon discovering the notebook, school administration alerted the Sterling Police Department. Principal Tina Boss sent a letter to the school community detailing the administration’s interview with the student, who stated the notebook was linked to an anime series and was never intended as a real-world threat.

Dozens of interviews conducted by police officers and the school threat assessment team concluded that the notebook contained no evidence of a credible threat against students or staff. The Sterling Police Department confirmed it would not pursue criminal charges. To reassure families and staff, a visible police presence was assigned to the school campus on October 6.

Why Are Parents Raising Concerns Over the School’s Response?

Despite official assurances, parents of students whose names appeared in the notebook expressed dissatisfaction with the handling of the incident. Jen DiCandia, the mother of a student listed in the notebook, shared her frustration publicly on social media, explaining that her daughter was terrified to return to the classroom.

• Restraining Order Request: DiCandia requested a physical boundary or restraining order separating the suspended student from her daughter, but school officials explained that room reassignments of that nature were not feasible in a small school environment.
• Insufficiency of Safety Plans: While the school district established a student safety plan, affected families argued that a three-day suspension failed to address the psychological impact on targeted students.

How Has Death Note Inspired Similar Real-World School Incidents?

Written by Tsugumi Ohba and illustrated by Takeshi Obata, Death Note centers on Light Yagami, a high school student who obtains a supernatural notebook capable of ending the life of anyone whose name is written inside. Adapted into an anime series produced by studio Madhouse and available on streaming platforms like Netflix and Crunchyroll, the franchise has periodically surfaced in real-world school disciplinary cases:

• Argyle Elementary School, Florida (September 2026): A 12-year-old student was detained and charged under state threat laws after a classmate reported a note containing names of students and staff members thrown into a classroom trash bin.
• Nashua, New Hampshire (2015): A middle school notebook listing 17 student names prompted a police response and district safety reviews.
• Gadsden, Alabama (2008): Two 12-year-old students were arrested and faced disciplinary hearings after staff discovered a replica notebook listing classmates, which the students claimed was a prank.