Finley student accused of writing 'Death List'
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BENTON COUNTY, Wash. -- KEPR learned a student from Finley Middle School was expelled on an emergency basis Thursday after a "death list" was found on Wednesday.
KEPR spoke to Superintendent Lance Hahn. He confirmed the student is a 13-year-old female in seventh grader. Hahn says a fellow classmate learned about the handwritten list that names 50 students and staff members, and then alerted an administrator. The following day, the student was removed from class and the Benton County Sheriff's Department was called. Benton County Sheriff's Department confirmed on Thursday afternoon the student was being held in the Juvenile Justice Center. Hahn would not confirm any names on the list or where the handwritten list was found, only to say it was located on campus.
Hahn said there was no disruption to the school day Wednesday or Thursday. Hahn says the situation was, "handled" and "students are safe."
The district sent a pre-recorded message to all families within the entire school district alerting them to the situation. Hahn said a number of concerned parents have called seeking more information.
KEPR talked with two parents on Thursday that said they were "shocked and scared." Mother of a middle school student, Crystal Stiles, said she was glad the school alerted families. "Even if my kid is not on the list, and I don't know if he is or isn't, I would want to know that a situation happened here," she said.
Thursday afternoon the Finley School District released this statement: The Finley Middle School Administration and Benton County Sheriff's Department are working on a discipline situation that recently arose. On Wednesday, March 6, a report of a threat was brought to the middle school administration.
After investigation, a handwritten list entitled "Death List" was discovered on the middle school campus. Approximately 50 student and staff names were on the list. All students on this list and their parents are being contacted personally by the school. The student who wrote the list is being detained at the Benton County Juvenile Justice Center and has been emergency expelled from the school environment until further notice. The immediate expulsion of this student assures that there is no threat to the Finley Middle School student body.
Mr. Mike Harrington, Principal at Finley Middle School, is asking students to refrain from engaging in social networking (Facebook/Twitter, etc.) and conversations related to this issue, as it is now a police matter.
"On behalf of Finley Middle School, I want to ensure parents that every precaution is being taken to ensure their children's safety," said Principal Harrington.
According to Benton County Sheriff's Department and Finley School District Administration, there is no current danger to Finley students. The district appreciates parent and community support in keeping students calm and limiting any involvement in this issue.
KEPR spoke to Superintendent Lance Hahn. He confirmed the student is a 13-year-old female in seventh grader. Hahn says a fellow classmate learned about the handwritten list that names 50 students and staff members, and then alerted an administrator. The following day, the student was removed from class and the Benton County Sheriff's Department was called. Benton County Sheriff's Department confirmed on Thursday afternoon the student was being held in the Juvenile Justice Center. Hahn would not confirm any names on the list or where the handwritten list was found, only to say it was located on campus.
Hahn said there was no disruption to the school day Wednesday or Thursday. Hahn says the situation was, "handled" and "students are safe."
The district sent a pre-recorded message to all families within the entire school district alerting them to the situation. Hahn said a number of concerned parents have called seeking more information.
KEPR talked with two parents on Thursday that said they were "shocked and scared." Mother of a middle school student, Crystal Stiles, said she was glad the school alerted families. "Even if my kid is not on the list, and I don't know if he is or isn't, I would want to know that a situation happened here," she said.
Thursday afternoon the Finley School District released this statement: The Finley Middle School Administration and Benton County Sheriff's Department are working on a discipline situation that recently arose. On Wednesday, March 6, a report of a threat was brought to the middle school administration.
After investigation, a handwritten list entitled "Death List" was discovered on the middle school campus. Approximately 50 student and staff names were on the list. All students on this list and their parents are being contacted personally by the school. The student who wrote the list is being detained at the Benton County Juvenile Justice Center and has been emergency expelled from the school environment until further notice. The immediate expulsion of this student assures that there is no threat to the Finley Middle School student body.
Mr. Mike Harrington, Principal at Finley Middle School, is asking students to refrain from engaging in social networking (Facebook/Twitter, etc.) and conversations related to this issue, as it is now a police matter.
"On behalf of Finley Middle School, I want to ensure parents that every precaution is being taken to ensure their children's safety," said Principal Harrington.
According to Benton County Sheriff's Department and Finley School District Administration, there is no current danger to Finley students. The district appreciates parent and community support in keeping students calm and limiting any involvement in this issue.
Now how old does a student have to be before a 'death threat' can be taken seriously? Â
If every kid that was bullied wrote our a fatwa against the bullies and those that sat by to allow such things then intentionally sent it to the principal, we'd have one heck of a busy Sheriff's office. Â
And apparently we'd end up with a lot of 'expelled' bullying victims. That'll teach'em to keep their mouths shut ! ! !
Something's wrong with this picture .. big time!
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Maybe we just need to 'home school' everyone ...
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@hockey37@Phil ChurchI look to adults in positions of responsibility to use their judgement. Not to reflexively react to circumstances without much thinking.
This is an example of the 'tail twisting the dog'. Expulsion .....incarceration ..... prosecution. An exceptional suite of responses I must say. But maybe there's really more to this story and this 13 yro had an arsenal in her back pack with a history of weapons training, etc. But it's puzzling that nothing like this has been reported. But you never know these days ... with weapons as plentiful as they are.
Did this student's behavior/mental history merit such action? Or did everyone down the line .. just want to play it SAFE during these 'fearful & threatening' times.
As I said ..... some 'smart a**ed class' is going to get together have each student fill out a personal 'death list' and then en mass submit them to their Principal and wait for the 'tail twisting' antics to begin. What better way to get attention.
And all because adults don't know any better than to 'play it SAFE'? Reminds me of the anonymous phone-in school bomb threat. Just how much 'searching' do you do .. to play it SAFE?