Parents in the Westville School District are concerned after they became aware of a student writing detailed list concerning desires to assault, rape, and kill other students. Fox Illinois spoke with one of the parents about how the list concerns him, and how he believes the school district failed to react.
According to Westville parent Jason Biava, the manifesto written by a student includes disturbing details about dates and targets students including Biava's own daughter. He says he is unsure if the threats were written with serious malice or as a joke, but either way, he and other parents are concerned and believe that the school district should have alerted them to the list.
"And it was said that on July 23, 2023, that the individual stated that they would like my daughter to be molested, murdered, and then disfigured, dismembered, have her body dismembered,” explained Biava, who’s daughter is in 8th grade at Westville Junior High.
According to Biava, the manifesto list is two to three pages long with gruesome details such as those regarding his daughter and multiple other students. Though it was not through the school that he and other parents discovered the list. They learned about it through their own children.
"The initial list was brought up by the children, and it was initially just 'Dad someone wrote about me on a list,'” said Biava. “Okay, no big deal, you know what I mean—kids write lists and stuff. Then it progressed where she told us the context of this list mentioned hurting, murdering, you know some severe things."
With the severity of these threats, he wonders why he and other parents were not notified of the list by school officials. This was the biggest concern for most parents.
"They'll bring us into the light if a bus is gonna be five minutes late. They'll bring us into the light when there's gonna have Spirit Day through via text message or email. Why are we not being told when someone has written a threatening, threatening context in regards to our children? Therein lies the problem you know,” said Biava.
Biava says the student who wrote the list has been suspended, and that the school board seemed receptive to his and other parents' concerns.
We reached out to the Westville Police Department, and they confirmed they are investigating this case. Fox Illinois also reached out to the Westville School District but received no response.
Westville parents concerned over manifesto list detailing rape, murder of students