The parents of an 11-year-old autistic boy targeted by classmates in a disturbing murder plot are now publicly breaking their silence about the ordeal. Brittany Mudd and Nick Bernardi spoke to local media, sharing horrifying details of how four fifth-graders planned to murder their son and stage it as a suicide.

The shocking incident happened at Legacy Traditional Schools in West Surprise, Arizona, last October. According to Mudd and Bernardi, their son was just 10 years old at the time and considered the other students involved to be his closest friends.

“It was literally his friends at school who tried to murder him,” Bernardi told reporters, emphasizing their disbelief at the betrayal their son experienced.

Police documents showed extensive, premeditated planning by the young conspirators. Each of the four children had a specific role: one was tasked with acting as lookout, another planned to forge a suicide note, a third was prepared to commit the stabbing, and the fourth child agreed to supply the knife.

The parents strongly dispute police claims that a “breakup” motivated the violent conspiracy. “It wasn’t a love triangle,” Bernardi clarified. “It was just a bunch of kids who would hang out on the playground.”

Both parents expressed shock at the sophistication of the murder plot, questioning how fifth-graders could know details about covering their tracks, faking suicide notes, and evading police investigation.

“When I was 10 years old, we did not know about covering our tracks, fingerprints, police investigations, or crime scenes. That’s not something you’re supposed to know at 10,” Bernardi explained, visibly distressed. Mudd questioned, “What movie did you just watch? What shows are you watching?”

Most troubling to them was the revelation that one of the students showed no remorse. This girl reportedly laughed while making excuses after being caught. “That’s psychotic behavior,” Mudd said bluntly.

“There was a mastermind to this,” Bernardi added. He expressed grave concerns over how the justice system handled the case, noting the juvenile court ordered all four students into a diversion program and requested they write apology letters—but the family has yet to see one.

“It’s closure, right? The courts are done, but the lives that were impacted are left out to float away,” Bernardi said, frustrated by the lack of accountability and the potential for repeat offenses.

The incident has deeply affected their son. Bernardi painfully recounted how his boy now casually states, “They wanted to kill me, but I’m not dead,” as if it were just a normal part of life. The family finds themselves at a loss for words whenever he says it.

“He was vulnerable with these kids and thought they were his friends,” Mudd said, tearfully adding, “Now he’s afraid to have friends again.”

For his safety, they have moved their son to another campus within the Legacy Traditional Schools network. The district claims it followed all required protocols, but citing privacy laws, would not discuss specifics publicly.

The shocking plot has ignited outrage from parents nationwide, raising urgent questions about school safety and accountability in cases involving dangerous young offenders. Many now wonder if justice was truly served or if these troubled children will continue to pose a threat.

This terrifying episode serves as a stark reminder: dangerous influences on children must be addressed swiftly, openly, and decisively, or more tragedies could follow.