School Multiple Murder Plot Uncovered at Rutherford

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Posted: 7:14 PM Feb 6, 2008
Last Updated: 7:17 AM Feb 7, 2008

14 comments

Rutherford Murder Plot

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A Rutherford High School student is behind bars tonight for allegedly plotting against some classmates. A school resource officer claims to have uncovered the plot inside the student’s notebooks.

A Rutherford student was arrested Wednesday on a charge of "written threats to kill or do bodily harm."

Authorities say, to the untrained eye, the student’s plot may have looked like nothing more than scribbling. But investigators say 14-year-old Dakota Gates was definitely planning to harm not only some of his classmates, but also some of the administrators at Rutherford.

School Resource Deputy Sgt. Myron Guilford uncovered the alleged plan, when he discovered a note gates had written Tuesday. At first glance it appeared to be meaningless hieroglyphics-type scribbles.

But on closer inspection, Guilford determined the scribblings were actually a detailed account of an attack Gates planned on classmates and school officials.

Guilford also claims to have found a list of students names Gates had targeted. During questioning Gates said the scribblings had no meaning.

Sgt. Guilford sent the note to the president of the Florida Gang Investigators Association who in turn sent it to the F-B-I. The F-B-I called Guilford Wednesday with a translation of the note, revealing a plot in meticulous detail.

Gates also allegedly wrote a "contract" and circulated it among the students stating if they signed his "contract" their lives would be spared when he began his killing spree.

Gates was booked into the Bay County Jail, then turned over to the Department of Juvenile Justice. He’s due in court Thursday for a bond hearing.

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Posted by: tronx Location: panama city on May 8, 2008 at 02:16 PM
i hope you all know that mr.guilford only arrested Mr.Gates under these circumstances because Mr.guilford is mad at Mr.Gates' mom(i wont go into detail). if you read the comment by "confused" they clearly help the case that Mr.guilford had no proof of these allogations untill after Mr.Gates was arrested, therefore it is safe to say that Mr.guilford just got lucky, and we all know it's election time, they are just using Mr.Gates to try and make it seem like they are actually doing something when they arent. i'ev been one of the poeple investigating(FBI) this case and it seems that yes, there was a coded note depicting death but the kids(not only Mr.Gates) were just depicting events from a popular anime(japanese book) DEATH NOTE. and the only paper Mr.guilford found was the decoded letter in "concerned"'s comment, whitch we have proven was meant as a decoy note, half on it isnt even true anyway, he just kept adding stuff on to throw them off the racks of the DEATH NOTE thank you, Tronx.

Posted by: Anonymous on Feb 10, 2008 at 03:22 PM
I totally agree with Betty down there. I was an aquaintance of Dakota's and I know that Dakota would never have done anything like that.You would have to go to the school that i DO TO SEE HOW HE WAS MISTREATED.Those kids were very mean to him.I myself being one of them, and if there is anything that I regret , It is not befriending Dakota. Because he was a nice kid. He was just very deeply misunderstood. You people take the time to think. If you're child were in the same situation as Dakota's. Would you still be saying put him in prison for ten years or whatever. It wasn't right what he did, but he is not the only one to blame. Dakota-I'm sorry :(

Posted by: confused Location: USA on Feb 10, 2008 at 03:08 PM
The school's resource Officer found a coded note, and a list, then without decoding the note decided it was a plot to kill people. He THEN sent it to the FBI for decoding. Does this make no sense to anyone? He had strange scribbles and a list of random names to go on, and decided it was a killing spree plot??!! Sounds like something strange is going on and Dakota is being scapegoated. IS someone loosing funding, or in fear of losing funding?

Posted by: Concerned Location: USA on Feb 10, 2008 at 02:56 PM
Here is a translation of the coded letter shown on the news more than once: Hello kaelie, if you are reading this then I am gone, dead, or near death. I need you to be aware that I can no longer trustable for you. I will return one day weather[sic] I am dead yet or not. I've lied many times. For many reasons, but what you are reading now is the truth: my last few goals in life are amoung[sic] being your friend, and dieing[sic] for you' cause once these two conditions are met I may neaver[sic] return, but I think you can survive without me and even though I loved you and you only wanted to be friends when I wrote this I learned to, --ve with this pain (Just kidding). I'm not sure if I met your mother by the. time you read this but tell her I said hi and bye. It matters not to me. weather[sic] or not you read this to anyone or not, but remember that this is not a sucide note, so don's[sic] show it off like it is. signed, Dakota Gates AKA S

Posted by: Family Location: Panama City, FL on Feb 10, 2008 at 11:46 AM
As a child of an administrator at RHS, I cannot begin to express how mortified I am that a student would plot to kill my parent. My parent has served the public school system for over 20 years for the good of the children - never asking anything in return. Those who slave away in public schools deserve to be idolized for the work they do, not plotted against. My parent was there and protected all of Dakota's classmates and the faculty and staff of RHS. I also second Regina's sentiment that Myron's presence at RHS that day saved lives. Do I believe that they should lock Dakota up and throw away the key? No, get him some help. But I also don't believe that anything this malicious should be taken as a joke. It's the least funny joke I can think of - unless you consider harming people humorous. For the sake of Bay District Schools, I am thankful to have people like Myron and my parent working to keep students safe while giving them an education. I wish all students could see that too.

Posted by: Regina Location: Sneads on Feb 8, 2008 at 08:29 AM
Being a "School" bus driver and a parent of a teenager,I think Deputy Sgt. Myron Guilford should be proud of a job "WELL DONE"! every parent thinks his or her child is innocent even when they watch a video of their child disrespecting people in general.even if the child was having problems at home or whereever, doesnot give him the right to plan or take another humans life. he should be punished to the fullest extent of the law, not a slap on the hand. these kids now days needs more discipile at home and at school, then maybe they won't be our future prisoners of our country!!!!!

Posted by: tami Location: panama city on Feb 8, 2008 at 08:11 AM
It is hard to judge what sentence should be imposed on this young man, however, there are rules and policies in place for a purpose and there are consequences for the choices and actions that we take. If it is not learned at this age and younger when is it learned? We can not fault people for "over reacting" if in fact that is the case. We should fault for under reacting or worse not reacting. It is not just in the schools, did anybody watch the news yesterday? What is wrong with people in general? It is not going to take a terrorist to kill us we are doing a fine job ourselves. "Bullying" is definately an issue in the schools no one wants to get involved with. I addressed the issue myself at another school and for lack of better words and lack of response feel I was brushed off. What are the students to think? They are not allowed to "fight back" they have to tell someone who will more than likely brush them off as well.

Posted by: Susan Location: now in Georgia on Feb 7, 2008 at 11:10 PM
I graduated from Rutherford in '85 and am heartbroken to hear of my school in such a horrible way. Bullying is a true act of cruelty, but threats of violence should never be referred to as a "joke".If faculty members did turn a blind eye to the bullying going on in the school then they should be held accountable for their actions just as Dakota should be held accountable for his. He could have asked for help from faculty, staff, other family members or even his friends but he didn't and that is where it all started to go wrong. People do not have to be bullied to understand not fitting in or bring the "outcast" everyone has been there at one time or another, they just may not admit it. It is not the situation that a person is in that speaks for that person, it is in the way that they handle the situation they are put in. I feel sorry for Dakota that he did not care enough about himself to seek help and fear that if he does not receive help that next time may be too late for everyone.

Posted by: Betty Location: Panama City on Feb 7, 2008 at 04:47 PM
Sure it was wrong for the kid to do this but he has problems at home that people do not even know about. He should not have done it, thats true but, those kids were very mean to Dakota, he's never had very many friends, and im not saying what he did was right, but trust me he would not have done anything.This was just a joke that Dakota did. I can tell you that right now. He would never do anything like kill someone and their making it seem like he had this big planned thing that he was gonna go psychotic and kill everyone. But I can tell you. He would never have done that. And everyone. think about how dakota had it rough

Posted by: Alyssa Location: Callaway on Feb 7, 2008 at 04:29 PM
You Obviously have never been bullied.Dakota was one of my closest friends and unfortunately was very misunderstood.But then again,no one really tried to understand him.They treated him wrong,teasing him all the time.He was never a bad guy.He just made a bad choice.I'm not trying to justify his actions,but the people on his "list" were probably people that bullied him nonstop.It's easy to say that someone deserves to be put in jail till God knows when,but it is completely different when you have to experience it.I know because me and him went through similar problems.He shouldn`t have made threats that's true.But someone should have been there to help him.I know teachers and other adult supervision had to have seen these things going on.But they ignored it and are now letting all the blame fall on Dakota.There needs to be someone who can help teens or else things like this are only going to happen again and more often.For Dakota:I'm sorry

Posted by: George on Feb 7, 2008 at 03:43 PM
This kid needs to be thrown in prison if the FBI got involved. 10 years or possibly more is a fair sentence in Florida. No parole, either. They cannot let him off easy. Look what happened 4 months ago.

Posted by: Tina Location: Bay on Feb 7, 2008 at 03:43 PM
I am amazed too that this is not first priority.

Posted by: Rachel Location: Callaway on Feb 7, 2008 at 07:37 AM
As a parent I am amazed that your news station website has this as a secondary story below water wars and condo developments! Your first responsibility is to the masses and I would say this story is much more important and should be highlighted as a concern for all to be aware. I would think the safety and well-being of hundreds of our kids is more important than another condo. I have a teenage son and this is a frightening experience. I expected it to be showcased with as much details as possible, but instead I login to find it's not even a priority to you. This was poor judgement on your part WJHG.

Posted by: George on Feb 7, 2008 at 06:54 AM
This kid needs to be thrown in prison for 10 years, no parole. They shouln't let him off easy w/ probation. He should go straight to prison.